Key facts
- The UK's electricity supply is secure for winter, according to grid operator NESO.
- Global energy market turmoil and threats to power infrastructure are being monitored.
- The UK has become more reliant on imported oil and gas in recent years.
- President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iranian power plants, a move condemned by Amnesty International as a potential war crime.
- Amnesty International also called on Iran to retract threats against energy infrastructure in GCC states.
The UK's electricity supply is expected to remain secure throughout the winter, despite ongoing global energy market turmoil and geopolitical tensions, according to the country's grid operator, NESO. While acknowledging the impact of global events on prices, NESO assured that domestic electricity supplies are stable.
The UK's increasing reliance on imported oil and gas, coupled with a shift towards wind and solar power, has made its grid more vulnerable to external fluctuations. However, the country imports only a small fraction of its natural gas from Qatar, and electricity imports from European neighbors via interconnectors are considered crucial for energy security.
Separately, a UK government report identified a low risk to power supplies stemming from a potential war in Iran. This comes amid threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Amnesty International has strongly condemned these threats, warning that attacking civilian infrastructure like power plants could constitute war crimes and cause disproportionate harm to millions of civilians. The organization also urged Iran to retract its own threats to retaliate against energy infrastructure in GCC states.