Decreasing Reliability of Energy

摘要

The reliability of energy supplies is decreasing because of political instability and increasing demand, at a time when many countries are becoming more dependent on those supplies. In future, expenditures on petroleum, natural gas, and electricity are likely to increase, and depending on the extent of their natural resources, many countries will face energy problems. An example is the United States: At one time it was a major exporter of oil, yet in 1999 it imported more than half of its needs.