Britain's energy-intensive manufacturers, including producers of steel, glass, ceramics and paper, have warned the government that they may have to halt production unless something is done about rising wholesale gas prices.
Wholesale gas prices have risen 400% this year in Europe, partly due to lower inventories and strong demand from Asia, which has put particular pressures on energy-intensive industries.
Industry leaders held talks on Friday with Business Minister Kwasi Kwarting but said those talks ended without immediate solutions.
"If the government doesn't take action, basically what we will see for the steel sector is more production shutdowns at certain times of the year," Gareth Stacey, general manager of UK Steel, told ITV. Today, those stops will be longer.