Blair says energy security 'key'

The energy white paper is due to be published in March

The security of energy supplies will become as important in the next decade as any security issue, Tony Blair says.

The PM said it was important to ensure that the UK had a diverse energy supply, including nuclear power.

"If we don't get these decisions right, and get them right quickly, we will pay a very heavy price in the future."

His comments to MPs came after Russia's state pipeline operator cut oil supplies to Belarus, which had knock-on effects for Poland and Germany.

Mr Blair was asked during Prime Minister's Questions about the UK's plans to prevent any similar situation happening to its energy supply.

Diverse supply

"Energy security for this country will be as important in the next decade as many of the crucial security issues have been in the years past," he said.

"It is extremely important that we as a country make sure our energy supply is secure for the long term - that, in my view, needs a diverse supply of energy," he said.

He said upcoming decisions about the energy white paper, to be published in March, were "very, very important".

Replacing ageing nuclear power stations were key, but the UK had also recently signed a deal with Norway to supply 30% of gas over the coming years, he said.

In Belarus, the Russian operator, Transneft, said it cut supplies on the Druzhba pipeline, which goes through Belarus, to prevent Belarus illegally siphoning off oil.

The European Commission said the cuts posed no immediate risk to European supplies but it was seeking an urgent explanation from Belarus and Russia.