Great Britain’s energy system operator has warned of potential “tight days” this winter.

The National Energy System Operator (Neso) indicated that imported electricity from Europe could be used “when required” to power homes and businesses.

This outlook follows the publication of the latest winter energy reports by Neso and National Gas, after a rise in the price cap led to a surge in costs.

Neso stated on Thursday that electricity margins, reflecting the cushion of spare power supply, have risen to their strongest level since 2020.

However, it added that there could still be some “tighter periods”, which might need support from the energy industry.

“We expect a sufficient operational surplus throughout winter, although there may still be tight days that require us to use our standard operating tools, including system notices,” the report said.

System notices are how the grid operator informs the wider energy industry that electricity supply has not matched demand, allowing for production to increase if needed.

Early data from electricity firms and forecasters has suggested that “tight days” are most likely to take place in early December or mid-January.

Neso added that imports will be available when needed to help cover demand, supported by “adequate electricity supply across Europe”.

Deborah Petterson, director of resilience and emergency management at Neso, said: “A resilient and reliable energy supply is fundamental to our way of life.

“At Neso, we are looking at the upcoming winter and can report that this year’s winter outlook sets out the strongest electricity margins in six years.

“It is critical that we continue our work with the wider energy industry to prepare for the coming months to build on this foundation and maintain our world-leading track record of reliability.”

Meanwhile, the latest analysis from National Gas indicated that Great Britain has enough gas supply capability to meet peak demand.

It indicated supply can meet demand, “even accounting for unforeseen network outage scenarios”.

The gas network operator said gas demand is expected to be 3 per cent lower than last winter, easing pressure on supply.

It said high-demand days are still expected, but it stressed that it is “confident” the market will operate as needed.

Glenn Bryn-Jacobsen, director of energy systems and resilience at National Gas, said: “As we head into winter, we remain confident in the resilience of our gas system and our ability to meet Britain’s energy needs during periods of peak demand.

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“The energy landscape is evolving, with a growing reliance on imports and the continued decline of UK continental shelf supplies.

“Meeting these challenges requires a coordinated, forward-looking approach, and we’re working closely with government, industry, and regulators to develop the right solutions that safeguard security of supply for the future.”

But the report from National Gas shows a fall in Britain’s gas storage capabilities, thanks to the Rough storage site off the coast of Yorkshire no longer storing gas, which means there is an increased reliance on importing liquified natural gas (LNG) to plug the gap in times of high demand.

The facility in the North Sea is the largest of its kind in the UK, but owner Centrica has stopped filling it with natural gas amid concerns over its financial viability.

The Rough site comprises about half of Britain’s storage capacity, and acts as a buffer when the weather is especially cold and demand for gas spikes.

Centrica has long warned it will be decommissioned without government support to allow investment in the site.

Mumbai: Gold and silver prices fell in early trade on Thursday, on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), as investors booked profits after both metals hit record highs in the previous session. 

At around 9:15 am, MCX Gold December futures were down 0.34 per cent at Rs 1,22,789 per 10 grams, while MCX Silver December futures slipped 0.75 per cent to Rs 1,48,738 per kg.

In Wednesday’s session, gold futures for December delivery had touched an all-time high of Rs 1,23,450 per 10 grams, and silver had hit a fresh peak of Rs 1,50,282 per kg.

Gold prices have seen a sharp rally this year, with domestic spot prices jumping more than 50 per cent so far.

The surge has been driven by global political and economic uncertainties, expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, a weaker US dollar, strong central bank buying, and robust inflows into gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Experts believe that despite some short-term volatility and profit booking, gold prices will continue to rise in the coming months.

They expect gold to surpass Rs 1,25,000 per 10 grams by the end of 2025, supported by rate cut hopes and concerns related to US trade tariffs.

“By year-end, gold on the MCX could move towards Rs 1,25,000–Rs 1,28,000 per 10 grams, while silver could test Rs 1,55,000–Rs 1,60,000 per kg, assuming the US Federal Reserve delivers one or two rate cuts and the dollar remains under pressure,” market experts added.

“Gold broke above $4,000 per ounce — up 53 per cent year-over-year — as investors sought safe havens amid the government shutdown and policy uncertainty,” analysts added.

The Dollar Index rallied to 98.90 due to political instability in France and Japan, which pressured commodities.

Oil fell 0.67 per cent to $62.13 per barrel as Trump announced progress on the ceasefire and inventories exceeded expectations, easing geopolitical risk premiums, as per the experts.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released the draft National Labour & Employment Policy – Shram Shakti Niti 2025 for public consultation. The draft policy presents a renewed vision for a fair, inclusive, and future-ready world of work aligned with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047. 

Rooted in India’s civilisational ethos of śrama dharma – the dignity and moral value of work, the policy envisions a labour ecosystem that ensures protection, productivity, and participation for every worker. It seeks to create a balanced framework that upholds workers’ welfare while enabling enterprises to grow and generate sustainable livelihoods, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.

Shram Shakti Niti 2025 positions the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) as a proactive Employment Facilitator, driving convergence among workers, employers, and training institutions through trusted, technology-led systems. 

The National Career Service (NCS) platform will serve as India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Employment, enabling transparent and inclusive job matching, credential verification, and skill alignment. 

Through open APIs, multilingual access, and AI-driven innovation, the NCS-DPI will connect opportunity with talent across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, rural districts, and MSME clusters, making employment facilitation a nationwide public good, the statement said.

The policy also places strong emphasis on universal social security, occupational safety and health, women and youth empowerment, and the creation of green and technology-enabled jobs. 

It aims to build a resilient and continuously skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of emerging technologies, climate transitions, and global value chains. By integrating key national databases such as EPFO, ESIC, e-Shram, and NCS into a unified Labour Stack, the policy envisions an inclusive and interoperable digital ecosystem that supports lifelong learning, social protection, and income security.

The draft policy reflects extensive stakeholder consultations and emphasises cooperative federalism, evidence-based policymaking, and digital transparency. It provides a long-term framework for coordinated action among the Centre, states, industry, and social partners to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared widely and equitably, the statement said.

The draft National Labour & Employment Policy – Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is available on the websites of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the Directorate General of Employment (DGE), and the National Career Service (NCS). Stakeholders, institutions, and members of the public are invited to submit their feedback, comments, and suggestions by 27th October 2025 at ddg-dget[at]nic[dot]in.