• The UK’s indigenous gas reserves are in decline to the extent that the country now imports gas and is predicted to be increasingly reliant on imported supplies of gas.
• In the UK, natural gas accounts for around 40 per cent of the fuel used to power and heat our homes and businesses. Some of that gas is used directly and some is used to generate electricity to provide heat or power.
• The underground storage of gas is only possible in certain areas demonstrating suitable geology and geological structures. Hatfield Moor is one of a limited number of locations with suitable conditions where natural gas can be conveniently and safely stored in naturally occurring underground gas storage reservoirs.
• Gas storage facilities are increasingly important in securing future supplies of gas for UK domestic and commercial use and also as the main fuel supply for power stations for electricity generation.
• The UK became a net importer of gas in 2004 and our reliance on imported gas is expected to increase current forecasts estimate that around 70-80 per cent of gas used in the UK by 2015 will be imported.
• Gas storage is essential to manage shortfalls in the UK gas supply (both long and short term). The need for storage becomes increasingly important as the UK demand for gas increases and supply from the North Sea diminishes placing the risk of an under supply to the UK and driving up gas and electricity prices. Availability of gas storage is vital in order to mitigate the effects of future changes to the supply of gas in the UK.