The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has called on the Economy Minister to explain what his energy policy actually is.

UUP Economy spokesperson Steve Aiken said the energy is potentially the most improtant issue for the Executive to deal with over the next six months.

The UUP is also bringing a motion for debate at the Assembly calling for a focus to be brought on the issue of energy pricing and security of supply for electricity.

Mr Aiken said: "The issues have been clearly defined: price volatility, high costs for large industrial users, the renewable heat debacle, threats to generation capacity within Northern Ireland, and lack of progress on cross border interconnection to create the Integrated Single Energy Market (I-SEM).

-- Advertisement --

"Energy experts have been warning for some time that Northern Ireland is heading for a security of supply crisis. As the general manager of the transmission network (SONI) said recently, "Northern Ireland is facing an energy supply crisis, as old conventional fossil fuel generators retire... over the next five years we will be at a point where we are in an energy generation deficit. As the system operator, I cannot be confident that we would be able to keep the lights on".

"We had an expert panel report with 24 recommendations focusing on reducing business energy costs in March. We are still waiting for an official response from the Executive."

(CD/MH)