Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey has admitted he is concerned about Ireland's ability to meet its future energy needs after a warning from the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) of a looming crisis.
The ESB separately warned that a lack of generating capacity could lead to power shortages as early as next winter. It said extra power stations must be built as a matter of urgency in order to meet future demand.
The concerns of both bodies prompted Labour Party energy spokesman Tommy Broughan to warn that power cuts could become a regular feature of the Irish winter if the issue is not tackled immediately.
Two new power stations in 2009 and construction of electricity interconnectors with the United Kingdom due to be built by 2012 are part of the Government's proposals contained in its consultation Green Paper.
But in its response, the IDA said the completion date for the interconnectors must be moved forward to 2010.
It said foreign companies were concerned about high prices and level of energy supplies and said existing proposals to meet future energy needs were insufficient.
Mr Dempsey said today he was concerned about the risk of black-outs and acknowledged the energy situation is "very tight" as demand matches supply. He did not, however, believe there was a crisis.
"We do need to get more competition into the market, we need to get greater security of supply, ... that's why recently we have been pushing to ensure we have new power stations on the system by 2009," Mr Dempsey said.
Two new power stations are planned for 2009, and Mr Dempsey said he wanted to see a third.
But he insisted that he had been given assurances that there is not a serious danger of black-outs between now and then.
Mr Broughan noted the ESB and IDA warnings were not the first and the OECD and the energy regulator also recently called for the urgent introduction of competition in the electricity and gas supply sector.
"If we do not respond immediately we face winters of discontent and darkness over the next few years. "The consequences of failing to act now could be catastrophic in the very near future," Mr Broughan said.
Additional reporting PA