Half of the gas used in British homes this winter will be imported from overseas - the highest proportion on record.
National Grid, the operator of the country's gas and electricity network, says UK production from the North Sea will be 6% lower this year than in 2008-2009.
That will leave Britain having to import 50% of its gas supplies from countries such as Norway, Trinidad and Qatar.
The UK imported just 27% of its gas as recently as 2007.
British Gas owner Centrica says the country's gas fields, many of which were first tapped in the 1970s, are no longer able to keep up with demand.
The company predicts that on current trends Britain will have to import 75% of its gas by 2015.
Britain was still a net exporter of gas in 2003, and was forced to import gas for the first time in 2004, when 5% of gas supplies came from overseas.
National Grid has forecast that around 40 million cubic metres of liquefied natural gas will need to be shipped to Britain every day this winter, about 10% of peak winter demand.
Further imports from Holland and Norway will be made via pipelines.
The fall in North Sea gas reserves comes as the country grows increasingly reliant on the fuel for power generation.
Around 35% of UK electricity now comes from gas-fired power stations, up from less than 5% in 1990.
Send Article by Email
Send Article by IM
Blog This with Y! 360
Printable View
