Gas import plans take shape

摘要

Dwindling gas production in the UK North Sea means the UK-after well over a decade as a net exporter-will shortly become a net importer.The crunch is expected as early as 2005 or 2006,with domestic output steadily declining thereafter.Forecasts of the speed of decline in domestic production are difficult to make-it is not clear what incentives the government will introduce to attempt to prolong the life of the country's oil and gas industry.