Britain bracing for gas crunch

(UPI) — British consumers face mounting concerns over gas supplies as supermajor BP shuts gas networks in the North Sea for a week’s worth of maintenance.

BP cuts 1 percent of the gas supply to Britain when it closes production at the Southern North Sea pipeline system for regular maintenance Monday, the Times of London reports.

Gas supplies from undersea pipelines to Britain are at peak capacity as Europe struggles with one of the harshest winters on record.

Ships loaded with natural gas are docking at British ports in an effort to make up for the loss from the BP maintenance.

The shortage, however, exposes concerns as British customers look to natural gas imports to make up for growing demand and dwindling supplies.

UPI