Britain imported more natural gas than it was able to produce from the North Sea this year for the first time in more than 40 years, in the latest sign of a tectonic shift away from energy independence in the UK.
Government figures published today showed that during the first three months of 2010, imports of gas to the UK soared to 183.8 terrawatt hours, a 31 per cent increase on the same period a year ago.
The trend was driven by strong demand for the fuel because of unusually cold winter weather.
Total imports outstripped indigenous gas production, which fell more than 9 per cent to 183.3TWh during the same period, for the first time since 1968.
Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via ship from countries such as Qatar, Trinidad and Algeria accounted for about a quarter of total gas imports in the first quarter of 2010.
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Two new LNG terminals opened last year at Milford Haven, in South Wales, and another plant at the Isle of Grain, in Kent, has been expanded.
The bulk of the remainder came via pipelines from Norway and the Netherlands.