Major UK coal power plant closure 'will not lead to blackouts'

Consumers assured that electricity supplies for this winter will remain unaffected by closure of most of Fiddler's Ferry near Manchester

The UK government and the electricity regulator moved on Thursday to reassure consumers that they will not face blackouts as the result of the closure of most of a major coal power plant.

Operator SSE said the closure of three out of four generation units at the 2GW Fiddler's Ferry near Manchester, which has made financial losses for two years, was likely to take place on 1 April.