Lights May Dim on Olympics

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Britain's energy supply will be so fragile by 2012 that the Olympics could be marred by power cuts, experts warned. Almost eight out of 10 said blackouts could be a "major issue" for the London games.

LONDON — Britain's energy supply will be so fragile by 2012 that the Olympics could be marred by power cuts, experts warned.


Almost eight out of 10 said blackouts could be a "major issue" for the London games.


Dwindling North Sea oil and gas supplies are leaving the nation increasingly reliant on imports.


The warning over the Olympics comes only days after the European Union said Continental power giants may be ramping-up prices and hoarding energy -- leaving Britain even more vulnerable.


At the same time the country urgently needs to boost investment in its ageing network of power stations.


Energy services company Mitsui Babcock said 39pc of the 140 experts it polled thought security of energy supply will be the biggest issue facing the UK this year.


The warning comes as Prime Minister Tony Blair considers building new nuclear plants to secure supplies.


CBI director general Sir Digby Jones said: "We cannot allow such levels of uncertainty to persist in a major industrial power like the UK."


Spiralling energy costs are cited as causing the biggest headache for industrial businesses in a poll of listed UK companies, according to research by accountant Baker Tilly.


Source: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News


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