Monday 17 April 2000

Gas and Energy Sectors Welcome Lifting of Restrictions on Gas Power Developments

Issued on behalf of the Pan Industry Group against the Stricter Consents Policy by the UK Offshore Operators Association

The pan-industry group representing the gas and energy sectors welcomes the Governments announcement today that it will lift restrictions on new gas-fired power developments in October.

The move is very timely as it ends nearly three years of uncertainty which has increasingly hit jobs and investment in both the offshore and onshore sectors of the UKs energy industries, as gas-fired power station developments were deferred or cancelled.

The removal of these artificial restrictions will allow the continued development of an industry that has made the major contribution to the UK meeting its Kyoto emission targets.

Industry will welcome further opportunity to discuss with the Secretary of State how this policy will help revitalise all sectors of the gas and energy chain.

Note to Editors

1. The pan industry group, with members drawn from the offshore gas producers, gas traders, power generators, major power users, contractors and suppliers both to the power and offshore sectors, was set up recently to examine the impact of the stricter consents policy on these industries.

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