The Government yesterday gave the go-ahead for a new gas installation at Tirley in Gloucestershire, which will help boost UK energy security by allowing for more gas imports.
Energy Minister Charles Hendry said:
“This Government is committed to ensuring we maintain secure energy supplies. A vital part of this is having a diverse energy mix: renewables, nuclear, coal with Carbon Capture and Storage and gas all have an important part to play.
National Grid’s new Gas Pressure Reduction Installation will be a vital part of a 316 kilometre pipeline transporting gas from the Milford Haven liquefied natural gas terminals into the National Gas Transmission network at Tirley.”
As the UK’s indigenous oil and gas reserves decline, the country will become increasingly dependent on imports. Two terminals to import liquefied natural gas have been developed at Milford Haven by South Hook LNG and Dragon LNG – which allow for gas imports from as far afield as Qatar, Algeria, Trinidad and even Australia.
Pressure reduction installations help to control and regulate the flows of gas, and need to be located at strategic points to ensure the country’s gas pipeline network operates efficiently and economically.
Construction of the new PRI will take approximately 18 months.
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Source: UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, December 14, 2010;