NATURAL gas supplier, Phoenix, a subsidiary of British Gas, has received a licence to supply homes and businesses in the Larne and greater Belfast area.

Phoenix is investing around £450 million in its Northern Ireland operation.

Phoenix chairman, Mr Patrick Montgomery, said the company had recently signed up two commercial customers, Ryobi Aluminium Castings and the new Jurys Hotel being built in Belfast city centre.

Phoenix has been given the licence for the exclusive supply of domestic customers for three years, and commercial users for eight years.

The company will retain exclusivity in the transportation of gas for 20 years.

"Many industries will not consider locating in an area where they did not have access to a natural gas supply," Mr Montgomery said.