In response to the new EU Green Paper on Energy Policy published today business group IBEC said Ireland is more vulnerable than any other country in Europe to a future energy crisis.
IBEC said this is due to a lack of national energy strategy, a high reliance on imported energy and inadequate infrastructure. The Business group said it is essential Ireland becomes more self sufficient and broadens our fuel mix in order to rely less on imported energy.
The EU Green Paper called on member states to work together to ensure steady and secure energy supplies.
The EC said that the EU's joint bargaining power would be second only to the US and let it get better deals and that political wil was now needed
The EU Green Paper prioritised seven energy policy issues: a coherent external policy, lower import dependency, diversification of the energy mix, energy partnerships, tackling climate change, innovation and the Internal Market.
IBEC Director of Enterprise Brendan Butler said that 'given the short three month timeframe in which this policy was produced by the European Commission, it is unacceptable that the Irish Government has not yet produced a National policy now six years overdue'.
Butler said Ireland is around 90% dependent on imported energy and that by 2007 over 60% of electricity generation will be fuelled by gas.
IBEC also said rising energy costs pose a big threat to competitiveness of Irish business and that since 2001 business electricity and gas tariffs increased by as much as 60% and 100% respectively.
IBEC called for the publication by the Government of a National Energy Policy, the development of an all island energy market, development of indigenous energy sources and more research and development in alternative energy sources, the provision of additional generating capacity and the requirement for additional interconnection both north south and east west.
