British Gas warns of price explosion

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/178216.html

British families could face fresh energy difficulties, after the UK's largest supplier warned that it may shut a major gas field over a tax dispute with the government.

The warning by Centrica, which owns British Gas, is followed by the government's plans to increase taxes on oil and gas.

Centrica warned that it would not resume operation at one of three fields in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, which it closed down for maintenance work.

The company said one of the fields may remain closed after supplementary energy tax rose from 20 to 32 per cent in the Budget. The field concerned is taxed at 81 percent of profits.

Instead, the company said, it would import gas when needed, putting it at the mercy of market prices. It warned that UK oil and gas producers face some of the highest taxes in the world, making profits marginal.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said that because of the “tax raid”, Britain risked “losing jobs, investment and secure energy supplies”.

The warning came as industry body Oil & Gas UK said North Sea oil platforms could be taken out of service prematurely as companies lose tax relief

Britain secretly builds nuclear plants

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/158367.html


Britain has already started work to build two new nuclear power stations even before receiving the building process approval, says a new alliance of anti-nuclear power campaigners.

The alliance accused the nuclear industry of jumping the gun by launching preparatory works at two sites including Hinkley Point in Somerset, Sizewell in Suffolk, the daily Morning Star reported.

The group said it has opposed proposals to construct nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point, Sizewell, Bradwell in Essex, Wylfa in Anglesey, Oldbury in Gloucestershire, Sellafield in Cumbria and Hartlepool in County Durham.

Communities Opposed to New Nuclear Energy Development (Conned) aims to bring together groups around seven sites earmarked for possible development.

Conned aims to not only raise public awareness about the health, environment and safety consequences of potential new nuclear power developments but also support the use of alternative energy strategies.

"It's clear that the industry wants to give the impression that everything is signed, sealed and delivered, hoping that the opposition will fade away,” Conned spokesman Crispin Aubrey said.

"In fact this is far from being the case. Opposition is strong and some investment analysts even argue that it will be extremely difficult for the companies to finance these expensive white elephants. Our local countryside will then have been trashed in vain," he added.

Britain fuel price rises risk protests

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/158364.html


New tax rises in Britain, which could see petrol prices jump by over 3p a liter, have drawn condemnation by British MPs as activists are warning of protests against the move.

A cross-party group of MPs in London joined by Scottish and Welsh Assembly governments has demanded that Downing Street cut fuel duty to help those whose jobs are affected by the fuel prices rise.

The government announced a 0.76p a liter increase in fuel duty on Saturday, which will be coupled by a VAT rise from 17.5% to 20% on Tuesday to raise the cost of unleaded petrol by an average 3.5p a liter.

This comes as unleaded petrol prices are already at a record high level of 124.16p, which is a 14% rise year on year.

The price hikes will not stop at that as the government is set to further increase fuel duties in April.

The prospect of record high prices for fuel has led farmers, carrier companies and taxi drivers to begin talks on a joint protest campaign.

The options on the table are causing disruption by blockades and rallies at refineries similar to the demonstrations in 2000 and 2005.

"The cost of fuel which sparked the protests in 2000 pales in comparison to what it is now," said David Handley who was among those launching the earlier protests.

This comes as Tory MP David Morris along with several Labour MPs have presented a motion on fuel price cuts to help the “hard-pressed haulage industry”.

Meanwhile Wales' rural affairs minister Elin Jones complained about the move damaging Welsh businesses “particularly in the farming and haulage sectors”.

"People are rightly asking why the recovery is being stifled by the UK government's short-sighted actions. Fuel pricing in rural areas continues to be an utter scandal. This tax hike will only make that situation worse," she said.

Also the Scottish government called for action “to deal with the impact of rising petrol prices” as well as a discount on fuel duty especially in the rural and island communities which will be “hardest hit by rising fuel prices”.

Fuel costs 'on the rise' in Britain

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157655.html


The British consumers will have to pay higher costs for fuel in 2011 as world markets prices of crude oil increase to their highest level in more than two years.

The rise in the price of crude oil is partly linked to a recent meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in which the members decided to keep the quotas unchanged until June, the daily Belfast Telegraph reported.

“Even without any increase driven by world markets, UK motorists face a 0.76 percent rise in fuel duty - upon which they also pay VAT - on January 1”, said an AA spokesman.

“Three days later, petrol prices will rise higher when the actual rate of VAT goes up from 17.5 percent to 20 percent”, added the spokesman.

Oil prices are up by almost 30 percent since September, pushing up both pump prices and wholesale gas costs.

This development comes after the prices hit a low of around $40 a barrel at the end of 2008.

The worry among economists is that higher oil prices -- which hit both the fuel industry and the household gas and electricity sectors -- will further drive up inflation and hamper the global economic recovery.

According to the AA, the cost of unleaded petrol is now at a new record high of 123.26 pence per liter -- up 14 percent on a year ago.

Soaring petrol prices come at a bad time for UK consumers, who are battling inflation of 3.3 per- cent.

Three weeks ago, Npower became the latest of the "big six" energy providers to increase its prices - taking electricity and gas tariffs up by an average of 5 percent in the new year - following similar increases from British Gas, ScottishPower, and Scottish and Southern Energy in recent weeks.