Oil - A Natural Resource

Who uses the world's oil?

It is, of course, the industrialised countries with their high demand for energy and oil-based products such as transport that use most of the world's oil.

It is also important to realise that crude or unrefined oil is a natural substance whose composition varies. So, for example, while Britain exports some North Sea oil, we import different quality crude oil produced by other countries.

RANK COUNTRY MILLIONS OF TONNES CONSUMED
1 USA 806.8
2 Japan 267.3
3 Former USSR 214.7
4 China 157.5
5 Germany 135.1
6 Italy 94.9
7 South Korea 94.8
8 France 89
9 United Kingdom 81.7
10 Canada 80
11 India 72.5
12 Mexico 71.6
Total world consumption 3,226.90

Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 1996.

Growth in the consumption of oil in the industrial countries can be restricted by:

However, demand for oil in the economically developing countries is likely to increase.

Oil is, of course, only one of the world's energy sources. The following chart show the world's consumption of different fuels in 1994. (Although fuels such as wood, peat and animal dung are important in many countries, it is difficult to get accurate figures for their consumption.)

World consumption of primary energy, 1994

image8_1x

Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 1995

Activities

  1. Using a world outline map, use proportional circles or columns to illustrate the figures in the table.

  2. Find other statistics and information about these countries and write one or two paragraphs to explain why you think these countries are the world's top consumers of oil.

  3. What can be done to conserve oil supplies? As a group, brainstorm ideas which might help us to become more efficient in our use of fuel.

  4. Design a poster to illustrate one aspect of energy efficiency and convince people of the importance of saving energy.

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