Blackout Britain

Oct 18 - Daily Mirror

BRITAIN faces energy blackouts and price rises because of a "looming generating crisis" in the electricity industry, unions warned yesterday.

Nuclear power station closures, EU directives to cut carbon emissions and colder winters because of climate change will all hit hard, they said.

Amicus and the National Union of Mineworkers want Chancellor Gordon Brown to set up a review of future energy requirements and invest in clean, coal- fired power stations.

Amicus boss Derek Simpson said: "We could suffer routine blackouts and price hikes in the next few years due to increasing reliance on supplies from unstable countries.

"The impact of new European legislation must be thoroughly investigated.

"The Government needs to act to encourage coal fire generating plant owners to equip their stations to reduce carbon emissions, and comply with new EU directives.

"A programme of publicly-funded research and development for clean coal technology must also be undertaken as part of a long term energy policy for the UK.

"This has to be backed up by investment in the UK's power engineering and manufacturing sector to develop expertise in the design and construction of new power stations."

However, the Department of Trade and Industry accused the unions of "scaremongering".