DECC works with other Government Departments to reform regulations for onshore and offshore gas supply facilities.
The Planning Act 2008 was introduced to create a more efficient planning system for nationally significant infrastructure, including gas supply infrastructure.
The Energy Act 2008 also established clear regulation for offshore gas supply facilities.
Together, these Acts aim to encourage investment in gas supply infrastructure by reducing the uncertainty surrounding planning applications.
The annual Energy markets outlook (links to the National Archives version of this website), last published in December 2009, gives detailed information on energy issues and projections covering all energy market sectors. Chapter 5 of this document refers specifically to the UK gas market.
EU Gas Security of Supply - December 2010
The EU Gas Security of Supply Regulation comes into force on 2nd December 2010, repealing Directive 2004/67/EC. The regulation will improve EU downstream gas infrastructure, planning and coordination between member states in order to enhance the resilience of the European gas market. The regulation is directly applicable in UK law.
Gas Policy Statement
In April 2010 DECC published a policy statement outlining its strategy for ensuring secure UK gas supplies to 2020 and beyond:
In parallel DECC published its response to the review by Malcolm Wicks MP 'Energy Security: A national challenge in a changing world'. This explains how the Government is acting to ensure we have access to energy imports that are affordable, secure and sustainable. Full details can be found on the National Archives version our International energy security web page.
Gas Supply Security
On 12 July 2010 DECC published three reports on aspects of security of gas supply commissioned by the Department from Pöyry Energy Consulting. They concern:
These paint a broadly benign picture of the outlook for security of gas supply into Great Britain in the years ahead. However, the reports also establish that the outlook is not risk-free.
DECC is taking these reports into account in its ongoing work on safeguarding the security of our gas supplies.