A combination of gas supply issues and high demand levels resulted in the Transmission System Operator issuing a Gas Balancing Alert (GBA). The GBA was introduced in 2005-06 and signals to the market that demand side reduction combined with increased supplies might be necessary to avoid a supply emergency. This came on the back of freezing temperatures that caused the highest demand levels so far this winter and which also caused the Norweigian processing plant Kollsnes to shut down. There was also a gas leak at the Norwegian gas field Troll over the weekend. The GBA obviously worked though with increased LNG supplies and increased Langeled and Interconnector flows. But with the freezing spell set to continue and snow on its way, there are sure to be ongoing pressures on the system read more ...