Global Patterns of Energy*

Question 1

Which countries consume the most energy?

Answer 1

(2013) North America, Canada, Norway and Saudi Arabia (all at 6.0

Question 2

Which countries produce the most energy?

Answer 2

Norway and Qatar (over 25,000kg oil equivalent per person)

Australia, South Africa, Namibia, North America etc (2,500-10,000kg OE per person)

Question 3

What are reserves?

Answer 3

Known stocks (of oil, coal and gas) which can be exploited for energy production

Question 4

Which countries have the highest coal reserves?

Answer 4

US at 267 billion tonnes (28%)
Russia at 173 billion tonnes (18%)
China at 126 billion tonnes (13%)
India at 101 billion tonnes
Australia at 86 billion tonnes

Question 5

Which are the top three continents for oil reserves?

Answer 5

Middle East (56%)
North America (16%)
Africa (9%)

Question 6

Which countries have the highest oil reserves?

Answer 6

Saudi Arabia (262 billion barrels)
Iran (136 billion barrels)
Iraq (115 billion barrels)
Kuwait (101 billion barrels)
United Arab Emirates (97 billion barrels)

Question 7

Which countries have the highest natural gas reserves?

Answer 7

Russia (47,000)
Iran (27,000)
Qatar (25,000)
Saudi Arabia (6,800)
United Arab Emirates (6,100)
(all in billion cubic metres)

Question 8

What factors affect energy consumption?

Answer 8

Supply and demand
Accessibility to fuel
Level of technology
Level of development and industrialisation
Inertia

Question 9

How does supply and demand affect energy consumption?

Answer 9

Where demand is high, price is high, so consumption decreases
When demand is low, price is low, so consumption increases

Question 10

How does accessibility to fuel affect energy consumption?

Answer 10

If fuels are easily extracted, the price is low and consumption increases

Question 11

How does level of technology affect energy consumption?

Answer 11

Relates to development and affluence of a country, if this is higher, demand for energy higher

Question 12

How does level of development affect energy consumption?

Answer 12

Rapidly industrialising countries, like China and India have higher consumption levels

Question 13

How does inertia affect energy consumption?

Answer 13

Affects the type of fuel used, so where infrastructure is put in place for specific fuels, it is easier and economical to stay the same, so consumption rates of these fuels is high

Question 14

What is OPEC?

Answer 14

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Question 15

What can also effect global trade patterns?

Answer 15

OPEC, and political issues of countries (such as war)

Question 16

What are OPEC’s objectives?

Answer 16

To co-ordinate petroleum policies to ensure fair and stable prices for producers, an efficient regular supply to consumers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the industry

Question 17

How does OPEC maintain stable prices?

Answer 17

By boosting supplies when demand rises and vice versa

Question 18

What is an energy gap?

Answer 18

A gap created because the loss of energy caused by phasing out the use of fossil fuels is greater than the amount of energy that is being developed from new, low-carbon sources

Question 19

What is energy poverty?

Answer 19

A (usually developing) country lacking access to modern energy services