Energy security for the UK ?

Jorn Madslien a Business reporter with BBC News has an excellent report today on the laying of the 1,200 Km. Langeled gas pipeline from the west coast of Norway to Easington in UK.

Completion of this pipeline is critical to the energy security of the UK and the hopeless optimists believe it will help to reduce consumer gas prices. A single 42" diameter pipe highlights the dangers posed by international economic terrorism. After all we have just witnessed in Lebanon the way the Israeli state can, whilst the world watches smash the economic infrastructure of a country.

Gas lines do explode. see "The Bigger the Bang, the Louder the silence". 15 dead 120 severely burnt and injured see pic. Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is dangerous stuff in pipelines as well.

See the resistance in sunny energy hungry, California to LNG pipelines here.
If you live in the US take a look at this map of proposed LNG terminals for receiving shiploads of high pressure LNG for storgae in High pressure gas tanks. IF you live in Milford Haven in the UK, you should be interested in this recent Guradian article about the safety of LNG tankers.

Gazprom plans to roll out a $4bn, 1,200 kilometre-long gas pipeline across the Baltic Sea to Germany, as well as developing its 1,400 square kilometre Shtokman field in the Barents Sea and have been visiting the pipe layer , but have made no commitments yet.

The route of the pipeline was designed as a last gasp move by outgoing Chancellor Schmidt and Putin to bypass the more insecure but more direct land route through third countries.