UK CO2 Shortage Plans Target Summer Supply Risks

The UK government is drawing up contingency measures for a possible carbon dioxide (CO2) supply squeeze by summer, citing continued disruption linked to the Iran conflict. The planning effort is designed to test how the country would cope if key conditions in the region do not improve in the coming months.

Officials are running an exercise codenamed “Exercise Turnstone” , involving teams from No 10 , the Treasury , and the Ministry of Defence . The scenario work includes a simulation in which the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and a permanent peace deal between the U.S. and Iran is not secured by June .

CO2 is widely used across the economy, with food production among the most exposed areas. The gas is used for stunning livestock, packaging fresh meat and produce, and carbonating drinks. It is also used in medical procedures, supports MRI scans, and is involved in cooling nuclear power plants, according to the information provided.

The UK is described as a significant consumer of CO2 in Europe, which raises the importance of continuity planning for both industry and public services. The government’s preparations are framed as a way to reduce vulnerability if supply chains face renewed stress during the summer period.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the public should be reassured by the work under way, and he stated that current CO2 supplies are not a concern for the UK economy. He also pointed to a government commitment of £100 million to reopen the Ensus bioethanol plant on Teesside for three months , describing the move as a step to strengthen CO2 resilience.

Private-sector signals in the source material were more measured. Tesco , identified as the UK’s largest retailer, said it is not seeing CO2 availability problems in its supply chain at present. The company also said it has experience managing supply disruptions during earlier crises, which it suggested supports its ability to handle volatility.

While the planning exercise sets out a range of stress scenarios, the source material does not specify the likelihood of shortages or provide a timeline beyond the summer focus and the June reference point for a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal. It also does not detail how long any disruption could last or which sectors would face the earliest constraints, leaving uncertainty around the scale and timing of any potential impact.