COBRA planning for nationwide emergency as gas storage closes down

A curious anouncement was made on at the end of BBC North West News tonight at 6.30pm.

On Monday morning there will be some programming in relation to Cabinet Office briefing room A - the COBRA committee and planning for emergencies.

Whilst heavy rain is expected the only major disruption we can reasonable expect is gas shortages. see post on Thursday, January 01, 2009 Are UK natural gas supplies secure this winter ? The margin of security gets smaller and smaller - and gas more expensive

The Government are way ahead - domestic gas rationing in UK, this would be done by rolling 3 hour electricity blackouts - as most central heating systems rely on a continuous electricity supply.

The government has had it planned for years - see http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file35360.pdf ! Maybe a gas fire with a piezo spark starter would work and gas rings / ovens could be used - but not as heaters as they are not flued and Carbon monoxide could build up.

So lay in the candles, a camping stove - primus , propane gas, easily heated / cooked food , plan for vulnerable people , children , the elderly and get out the board games if the TV doesn't work. In the long term install a wood stove.

Your local council should have prepared an Emergency plan see Rochdale MBC's plan here (dated incidentally Jan 2009)

Click on the image to enlarge - this is one of 13 increasingly severe 3 hour rolling electricity blackouts.

UPDATE 2100: GMT News Item : Deutches Welle within last hour

Russia Gas Deal in Doubt as Medvedev Talks of 'Mockery' Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:

Looks like the gas meters could be staying at zero for a while longer

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday, Jan 11., said an EU-brokered deal aimed at restoring the supply of Russian gas to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines was off. He said Russia objected to additions made by Ukraine.

Medvedev made the remarks in a discussion with Moscow's foreign minister shown on television. He said Russia objected to a handwritten addition made to the formal agreement by the Ukrainian side, calling it a "mockery of common sense."

"I think that those who have signed this document with reservations well understand the legal consequences of their actions," he told Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Dmitry Medvedev, left, meeting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday, Jan. 11"As a result, we are obliged to consider the document signed as null and void for us. We will not apply it as long as this reserve is not overturned," he added.

The declaration, which was seen by Reuters, said that Ukraine had not siphoned off transit gas and that it has no outstanding debts to Gazprom. That is the issue that stands at the center of the dispute.

Russia won't restart supplies

Moscow has insisted it will not restart gas supplies to Europe until it has a valid deal. Supplies have been halted since Wednesday. He urged EU officials to demand Ukraine withdraw its so-called declaration that it issued to accompany the agreement.

The European Commission says the declaration can't change the deal, but Lavrov told Medvedev that the copy of the deal Russia has received contains Ukraine's stipulation that it only is valid along with the declaration.

UPDATE : Monday 1000 GMT

From The Sunday Times January 11, 2009
Britain close to low gas alert Reserves have fallen to less than a week’s supply of UK needs http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5489455.ece
Peter Parsons, gas supply manager at Britain’s National Grid said: “We’re close to the point where we’ll have to take emergency-type measures.”