[worsening energy crisis UK multi-industry factories face the threat of shutdown] energy-intensive industries such as steel, glass, ceramics and paper are being hit hard as wholesale natural gas prices soar in Europe. On Friday, a number of British industry leaders held talks with Kasikwarten (Kwasi Kwarteng), secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy. They warned that they would be forced to stop production unless the government responded to the surge in wholesale gas prices.