Maplecroft, the risk-analysis firm, has found that the UK is one of the most exposed developed nations and is more likely to suffer supply disruption than France, Germany or the US.
Only Italy, Spain, Greece and Japan are at greater risk than Britain in the short-term among developed countries. China also faces an uphill struggle to meet its energy demand.

"Although energy infrastructure is well maintained in the UK, high fuel prices at the pump and relatively high imports of both fossil fuels and electricity leave the UK vulnerable to disruption of their energy supply," Maplecroft found. "The UK became a net importer of natural gas and oil in 2004 and 2005 respectively. And the UK lags behind other European countries in its adoption of renewables as an energy source."

More than 100 countries are rated "high risk", emphasising the problems faced across the world in meeting energy needs over the next decade.Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea Bissau are the only countries facing "extreme risk" in the short term.

Surprisingly, some oil and gas producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, are also rated "high risk" in the long-term because the countries are "energy intensive" and may not be able to meet internal demand in future.

Canada, Norway, Australia, Russia and Saudi Arabia have the most stable conditions in the short-term, due to their abundant natural resources and diverse energy mix.

Alyson Warhurst, chief executive of Maplecroft, said the recent turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa has highlighted the dangers of an economy heavily dependent on imported fuels from a specific region. For example, a quarter of America's imported fuel comes from the Middle East.

"Rising fuel prices in response to the political turmoil in early 2011 have shown that energy security is of paramount importance," she said.

"Many countries are greatly reliant on imported oil and gas from these regimes. In order to support economic growth and energy demands, they will need to diversify energy supplies by increasing import partners and expanding domestic production and renewable energy sources."

Iniciado por Jiuston!

Desde 2005 UK es importador neto:



Es interesante ver la curva asintótica hacia cero de la producción. Muy curioso también lo constante del consumo, lo que indica el uso de otras fuentes o la mejora de eficiencia. En la página de The Oil Drum indican que se ha debido al crecimiento del consumo en transporte y disminución en industria.