UK's Rough gas storage faces closure without government funding

Centrica, the owner of the Rough undersea gas storage facility in the North Sea, warns that the UK's largest gas storage site will close after April 2027 unless the government backs a £2 billion redevelopment. Rough, which provides roughly half of the country's gas storage capacity and can hold enough gas for up to 30 days, currently requires about £10 million a month to remain operational.

The company says the asset is critical for UK energy security, helping to buffer against volatile international gas prices and supporting winter supply. Centrica is seeking price guarantees and investment‑return assurances from the government, saying "time is running short" to prevent the site from becoming exhausted before the winter season. The government has expressed openness to discussion, but views the expansion as a commercial decision.

Rough, originally a depleted gas field, was closed in 2017, partially reopened in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict drove gas prices higher, and now faces an uncertain future that could affect domestic gas supplies and price stability during the upcoming winter.