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UK energy demand down over third quarter

25 December 2008

Demand for energy from both UK businesses and households fell over the third quarter of 2008 when compared to the same period last year, new figures show.

According to the latest statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, consumption over the three-month period was down by 5.7 per cent, with this figure taking into account seasonal variations and temperature changes.

Specifically, coal and other solid fuel consumption within the UK dropped by 13.0 per cent, though gas consumption was up by 1.8 per cent.

The official figures also suggest that Britain is still far from energy self-sufficient, with the country a net importer of oil and related oil products by 2.1 million tonnes.

This stands in comparison to the 1.8 million tonnes of oil imported in the third quarter of 2007 and comes in spite of the recent completion of a number of renewable energy schemes aimed at reducing the UK's reliance on fossil fuels and energy imports.

At the same time, however, unplanned shutdowns at a number of plants across the UK saw the amount of nuclear power produced over the past 12 months fall by 13 per cent.

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Author: Administrator User