WSJ: UK Energy Imports at All-time High in 2012 as Output Tanks

Imports of energy into the U.K. reached record levels in 2012, government data showed Thursday, raising again the issue of potential supply shortages as domestic generation fell by more than 10%.

Total energy imports climbed by 6.9% to record levels, said statisticians from the Department for Energy and Climate Change, or DECC, in a release, with the U.K. importing 43% of its total energy needs.

The high level of dependency comes at a time when DECC is consulting on the state of energy security in the U.K. The closure of old infrastructure, declining domestic reserves and low-emissions targets all pose challenges to accessing low-cost sources of power.  MORE