While fossil fuels dominate local power production, Northern Ireland will suffer from the volatility of worldwide shifts in the cost of oil, gas and coal. That was the message from Energy Minister, Arlene Foster, as she launched a scoping consultation on the development of a revised strategic energy policy for Northern Ireland, today. Speaking to delegates at the sixth annual Northern Ireland Energy Conference in Belfast, Arlene Foster said that Government will continue to encourage the use of renewable power, and work to bring about the improvements in infrastructure needed to enhance security and diversity of energy supply, and to support economic activity. Arlene Foster said: “We face many challenges in creating a sustainable energy infrastructure that will support economic growth, and provide for a reliable and competitive energy market for Northern Ireland. While fossil fuels continue to dominate local power production and transport in Northern Ireland, we will continue to suffer from the volatility of worldwide shifts in the cost of oil, gas and coal.
This means planning for a sustainable energy future that will also deliver on EU climate change targets and increase security of energy supplies for domestic and business use. The era of us relying on cheap fossil fuel energy is over and we must become more energy efficient by seeking to reduce our energy consumption.”

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13 November 2008
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