Centrica have applied to reduce the minimum capacity of the Rough storage facility to zero.
Centrica Storage Ltd (CSL), the operators of the Rough storage facility have applied to reduce the minimum capacity of the facility to zero for the 2017/18 storage year.
Rough, is Britain’s largest storage site and its stocks are important during the winter period to help the nation cope with spikes in demand to ensure energy security. However, there are concerns in regards to the condition of its wells and Centrica would like to limit how much gas could be stored at site as a safety precaution.
The application has been submitted to the energy regulator, Ofgem and follows an announcement made by Centrica on the 16th of February which stated that Rough would not be available for gas injections until at least the 1st of July. The site would be unavailable during this time due to testing on its wells and analysis of the work carried out. Read more here.
CSL are hoping for a decision from Ofgem by the 10th of March, although Ofgem are not obliged to adhere to any timelines in making a decision.