Great Britain has only two days of gas stored !

Low Gas Storage Raises Energy Security Questions

United Kingdom energy reserves are under scrutiny after new data showed the country has less than two days of fossil gas stored, raising concerns as conflict involving Iran threatens global energy supplies.

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Figures from National Gas, which operates Britain’s national gas transmission system, show the country had 6,999 gigawatt hours (GWh) of gas in storage on Saturday.

That figure is significantly lower than the 9,105 GWh recorded at the same time last year.

With a theoretical maximum capacity equivalent to about 12 days of gas consumption, current levels represent under two days of stored reserves.

LNG Tankers Diverted to Asia

The tightening situation comes as liquefied natural gas shipments are being redirected away from Europe.

According to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg, at least two LNG tankers changed course in the middle of the Atlantic in recent days, turning away from European destinations and heading toward Asian markets.

Several similar diversions occurred earlier in the week.

Energy analysts say the changes reflect surging demand in Asia following disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran and its regional rivals.

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Strait of Hormuz Disruption Drives Price Surge

The crisis escalated after intensified airstrikes by United States and Israel on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory moves that have disrupted shipping routes.

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne gas shipments pass.

The disruption has sent energy prices sharply higher.

Asian LNG prices jumped last week, while UK month-ahead gas prices surged to 137 pence per therm, compared with 78.5 pence before the war began.

The situation worsened after Qatar halted production at the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility following a drone attack.

Many Asian economies rely heavily on Qatari LNG exports, pushing buyers to compete aggressively for available shipments.

Officials Say Supply Remains Secure

Despite the relatively small level of stored gas, British officials say the country is not facing an immediate supply crisis.

National Gas stressed that storage represents only a small part of Britain’s overall energy system.

Most of the country’s gas comes from domestic production on the UK Continental Shelf and imports from Norway, supplemented by LNG deliveries and pipeline connections with mainland Europe.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it was “categorically untrue” that the UK had access to only two days of gas supply.

Officials argue that Britain’s diversified supply network provides flexibility to meet demand throughout the year.

Structural Challenges for the Future

Even so, experts warn that the current situation highlights broader challenges for the country’s long-term energy security.

Unlike mainland Europe, which maintains several weeks of gas reserves, the UK relies more heavily on a flexible supply system rather than large storage facilities.

According to National Gas chief executive Jon Butterworth, structural changes are reshaping the country’s energy landscape.

Declining production in the North Sea, increasing dependence on imported gas and evolving demand patterns are all creating new risks for the system.

Calls for Expanded Storage and Supply Options

In response to a government energy security review, National Gas has proposed measures aimed at strengthening the country’s supply resilience.

These include expanding LNG infrastructure, increasing storage capacity and potentially introducing floating gas storage facilities.

Gas injections into storage have already increased since late February as milder temperatures reduced demand, allowing reserves to rebuild slightly.

However, analysts say the combination of geopolitical tensions and global competition for energy supplies could keep pressure on markets in the months ahead.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 08.03 2026

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39 minutes ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

The crisis escalated after intensified airstrikes by United States and Israel on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory moves that have disrupted shipping routes.

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne gas shipments pass.

This is simply incorrect. It's the shipping companies and huge increases in insurance that's stopped shipping going through the Straight. The Straight of Hormuz is open it's simply shipping isn't passing through it.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This is simply incorrect. It's the shipping companies and huge increases in insurance that's stopped shipping going through the Straight. The Straight of Hormuz is open it's simply shipping isn't passing through it.

The post did say "effectively closed".

But then it was the US that "effectively" created the problem that led to the effective closure.

2 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The post did say "effectively closed".

But then it was the US that "effectively" created the problem that led to the effective closure.

Trump's fault. Of course. Nothing to do with Iran then.

A certain "Liz Truss" were a UK government treasury minister who decided not to refurbish the "Rough Gas collection plant" offshore Yorkshire in 2017.

Many times think we should have more economists running the country than accountants

13 minutes ago, tmd5855 said:

A certain "Liz Truss" were a UK government treasury minister who decided not to refurbish the "Rough Gas collection plant" offshore Yorkshire in 2017.

Many times think we should have more economists running the country than accountants

Agree! I've worked for employers who have been led by accountants. Always, without exception, has been a disaster for that company. Totally the wrong mindset/psyche.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Trump's fault. Of course. Nothing to do with Iran then.

Trump said it is Biden’s fault. 🤣

When Orange face loses the Middle East war and crashes our economy the way he crashes his businesses then that will be Biden’s fault also. MAGA cult members are the dumbest of the dumb on planet earth.

No sweat. Ed Miilband will switch on all his wind turbines and solar panels and we can go all-electric.🫠

10 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

Unlike mainland Europe, which maintains several weeks of gas reserves,

Even then it doesnt hold. Yesterday was checking, as "my country" was going low on gas.

Of course the article said, we didnt have to worry as of low reserve.

The graphic showed begin november 73.6 % reserve and now begin March we are going under 10%.

If weather change back to winter, we are still in it, but had now lovely February, we are screwed.

No matter what they say, as the word was again Norway.

We had gas of our own, but years of exploitation, showed an increase in earthquakes and destroying buildings.

Houses of people, they crack down on all sites. People had to flee there houses, not safe anymore.

Of course the government is not keen on repairing and it took many years before finally admitted , they were guilty and had to repair. Never the less, it goes slowly, as thick poo in an eau de cologne funnel.

Gas winning "stopped" eventually, however not really stopping, kept it semi secretly open and used it

Because of those peeks & pokes, is now decided to really stop and companies are working on filling wells with concrete, to be never opened again. 70 out of 300 are now done.

That will take 10 years. While that is happening, government is in stress and are now shouting to keep all open in case of.

Really? Lots of debates will follow now to keep it open or ...not? Maybe even drill new holes ?! Are they nuts? Yes they are.

However THE company of winning gas, dont want to go there anymore,... they say.

Not yet a debat of moving all people somewhere else, a whole province, 602000 people. That will cost, again. New houses to be build and we are already immens short on that too !

We have a village and is going to disappear from map, as they need the space for transformer section (electricity) !

Really?! 1100 people must move ! But again there are no houses available ! And building? We dont have that many people in working of that. So now we are importing many people, but again we dont have houses !

Electricity, also we have lots of problems with it. Houses, companies not connected to grid. But if a giant data center is coming from USA, no problem. We even get a brand new American pharmaceutical company here, no problems with all utilities of course.

In mean time we are running low on gas.

I can imagine all other countries in EU having the same problem with gas, or are they wiser?

I guess, my opinion, USA is responsible for all. They created war in Russia and just continued all over the world.

They benefit on all. Mind , dont say Trump, however he is now the executioner.

Americans dont care, everything for a buck. Greece partially went down on business with investment bank Goldman Sachs.

2008 we had the crash, affecting whole world, thanks to America.

Came up a number of 6900 Americans applied for staying permanent in "my country" , ONLY last year .

Yha, ok come in, we have space, NO we dont have.

4 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

No sweat. Ed Miilband will switch on all his wind turbines and solar panels and we can go all-electric.🫠

Last year I had solar, batteries and a heat pump installed at my mother's house in the UK. They took the gas meter away saving paying the gas standing charge every month.

The newest Gas boilers are only about 90% efficient while the heat pump is currently running at 356% efficiency.

Gas is cheaper than electricity when comparing the price cap prices, but if you are on a heat pump tariff the price per unit is about the same, so the heat pump works out much cheaper.

February onwards the solar panels are producing a surplus which is being exported for a big profit during the peak 4-7pm window.

In addition we have signed up for a virtual power plant which pays an additional £1/kWh with a guaranteed minimum of £10 per month

Over the last decade the UK government has effectively knee-capped the domestic oil and gas sector through policy uncertainty, licensing delays, windfall taxes and a political narrative that treats North Sea production as something to be phased out rather than strategically managed.

The result? - Declining domestic production....Greater reliance on imported gas...Exposure to global LNG markets and geopolitical shocks...

Meanwhile Norway, which kept developing its oil and gas resources, is laughing all the way to the bank as Europe depends on its supply.

And over in the corner France is quietly smirking with a largely nuclear electricity system that shields it far more from gas price spikes.

The irony is obvious: Britain still needs gas for heating, power generation and industry. If we don’t produce it ourselves, we simply import it - often with higher emissions and higher prices.

Instead the UK Government seems to prefer slogans over sound policy and has ignored the need for reliable domestic supply, diversified infrastructure and enough storage to ride out global disruptions.

Right now the UK is discovering what happens when ideology outruns energy reality.

Dammit, I knew we should have sided with Iran. After america's humiliating defeat to the Taliban in Afghanistan, we should have known better. america is gonna be 0-2 for their last 2 wars. I hope the UK switches sides, so that we can be on the winning side and get preferential treatment when fuel supplies resume.

Don't worry we're not going to need a lot of gas summers coming.

I predict a glorious summer just like the one in 1939.

The UK is currently doing a review of the energy market. REMA (Review of Energy Market Arrangements) the complete re-engineering of the UK energy market with the aim to deliver a "secure affordable and decarbonized power system"

The key part is the strategic spatial energy plan where the National Energy System Operator will map out what power plants, storage and grid infrastructure needs to built and where. Currently the free market makes these decisions so we get power production where there isn't available grid connections or adequate network capacity to move that power to where it's needed.

The "Great Grid Upgrade" is currently underway which includes Fast DC undersea cables to link wind in Scotland and the North Sea to where the power is needed as well as interconnects with other countries.

A very good website to review the UK energy mix in real time is https://grid.iamkate.com/

snapshot:

No need to worry - Milliband to the rescue with a brilliant solution.

23 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Trump's fault. Of course. Nothing to do with Iran then.

The "first stone" implies "without sin", even a blind man would see through it.

The Iranian special security action has not been declared a war yet, though it is difficult to tell. Trump has already told the UK he won, thank you very much. Perhaps AN should open a book for members to estimate how many months and years the special action will continue.

I cannot see it lasting less than 12 months.

The UK was warned weeks in advance of the likelihood of action in the Gulf. It chose to ignore the warnings.

The lack of a gas reserve is entirely the responsibility of the UK. this isn't the first time that oil production and shipments from the Gulf have been disrupted. Remember when Iraq invaded Kuwait, or when Iraq and Iran had a war? How about the Iranian backed Shiite uprising in Bahrain? The UK could have boosted reserves. It also could have deployed its armed forces to defend its allies in the Gulf. Starmer and friends were in denial.

On 3/9/2026 at 6:53 AM, ASEAN NOW News said:

According to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg, at least two LNG tankers changed course in the middle of the Atlantic in recent days, turning away from European destinations and heading toward Asian markets.

So good to hear.

Europe has dug its own energy grave.

Maybe ask their buddies in ukraine for some left over gas.