Ameer Randolph
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, have been the primary source of energy since the Industrial Revolution. While coal consumption is declining in many parts of the world, oil and gas consumption is increasing. Fossil fuel consumption varies across countries, with larger countries consuming more energy overall, but not necessarily per capita. The global consumption of fossil fuels has increased significantly in the past half-century, with an eight-fold increase since 1950 and a doubling since 1980. In recent years, the focus has shifted to reducing dependence on foreign fossil fuels, especially in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis. This has led to bans or reductions in the import of Russian fossil fuels by the UK, EU, US, and other countries. As countries move towards climate neutrality, they are exploring alternatives such as renewable electricity, synthetic fuels, and green hydrogen, but the transition away from fossil fuels requires significant investments and infrastructure development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global fossil fuel consumption | Increased by around eight times since 1950 and roughly doubled since 1980 |
| Largest consumers vs smallest consumers | Largest consumers use more than ten times the amount of fossil fuels than smallest consumers |
| Global primary energy from fossil fuels | Around four-fifths |
| Germany's fossil fuel imports | 48.6% of its gas in 2023 was imported via pipeline from Belgium, France and the Netherlands |
| US fossil fuel imports | In 2023, the US imported about 8.51 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum from 86 countries |
| US fossil fuel exports | In 2023, the US exported about 10.15 million b/d of petroleum to 173 countries and 3 US territories |
| US net petroleum exports | In 2023, the net petroleum exports were about -1.64 million b/d, making the US a net petroleum exporter of 1.64 million b/d |
| Top 5 source countries of US petroleum imports in 2023 | Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Brazil |
| Top source of US petroleum and crude oil imports in 2022 | Canada (52% of gross petroleum imports and 60% of gross crude oil imports) |
| Global explicit subsidies for fossil fuels in 2022 | $1.5 trillion |
| Russian fossil fuel exports in the first six months of the war | €158 billion, €85 billion of which went to the EU |
| UK fossil fuel imports from Russia in 2021 | 4% of gas, 9% of oil, and 27% of coal |
| UK fossil fuel imports from Russia in 2022 | Worth £2.2 billion |
| UK fossil fuel imports from Russia in the year to January 2023 | Worth £1.3 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuel imports from Russia
In 2021, imports of gas, oil, and coal from Russia to the UK were worth a combined £4.5 billion. This fell to £2.2 billion in 2022 and £1.3 billion in the year leading up to January 2023. Notably, in June 2022, the UK imported no fossil fuels from Russia for the first time since 2000. In January 2023, the UK again imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia, marking the tenth consecutive month without Russian gas imports.
The EU has not agreed on a complete ban on Russian gas, but it has implemented policies to reduce its dependence. In 2020, imports from Russia accounted for 39% of the gas, 23% of oil, and 46% of coal used in the EU. By the third quarter of 2022, Russia's supply of gas to the EU had dropped to 15%, and oil to 14%. The EU coal ban, which came into effect on August 10, significantly impacted Russian exports, as they struggled to find alternative buyers.
Despite the EU's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, it remained the largest importer until China surpassed it in May 2024. Between February 24, 2022, and May 28, 2024, China imported Russian fossil fuels worth approximately €178 billion, while India was the second-largest importer, with imports totalling €88.8 billion.
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Germany's dependence on foreign fossil fuels
Germany is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which account for 75-77.6% of its total energy consumption as of 2023. Oil is the country's largest domestic energy source (35.2%), followed by natural gas (23.9%), renewables (19.6%)-22.8%, coal (16%), and other sources (2.2%). Germany is almost entirely dependent on imports of oil and gas, with over 50% of natural gas imports coming from Russia through pipelines until 2021.
Germany's largest domestic fossil fuel source is coal, which it produces and consumes in large quantities. However, coal consumption has decreased in recent years due to a shift towards renewable energy sources and government efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Germany has been modifying its coal-fired power plants to be more flexible and support the fluctuations from increased renewable energy sources.
Germany has invested heavily in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, spending over a hundred billion euros since 2009. Despite these efforts, carbon dioxide emissions have not decreased and even rose by about 2% during that period. Germany has set aggressive targets for reducing emissions and increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix.
In conclusion, Germany's dependence on foreign fossil fuels is a complex issue that involves a transition to renewable energy sources, geopolitical factors, and economic considerations. While Germany has made efforts to reduce its reliance on foreign fossil fuels, it still faces challenges in achieving energy independence and meeting its climate goals.
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US petroleum imports from OPEC countries
The US imports petroleum from a variety of countries, with OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC countries accounting for different shares of the total imports over time. While OPEC countries supplied 70% of all imported petroleum in 1977, this share decreased significantly in the following years. By 2012, OPEC countries represented less than half of US petroleum imports, and by 2013, non-OPEC countries supplied nearly two-thirds of all petroleum imported into the United States.
Among the OPEC countries, Canada is the largest source of crude oil imports for the US, accounting for 40% of the total. Other major OPEC suppliers to the US include Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iraq, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Kuwait, which collectively contribute 31% of US crude oil imports. Mexico, Russia, and other countries make up the remaining portion of OPEC imports.
The US Energy Information Administration provides data on US petroleum imports from OPEC countries from 2000 to 2023, measured in thousands of barrels per day. Additionally, the International Energy Outlook 2016 projected that OPEC countries would maintain or even increase their market share of crude oil production up to 2040.
It is worth noting that the US has been reducing its reliance on petroleum for electricity generation due to environmental concerns, with a preference for other fuels like coal. However, petroleum liquids and petroleum coke still contributed a notable amount to electricity generation in certain sectors as recently as 2015.
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Fossil fuel subsidies
The distribution of fossil fuel subsidies is often inequitable, with the rich benefiting more than the poor. While removing fossil fuel subsidies may indirectly impact poor people through price increases in other areas, such as food, the overall benefit relative to their total income is much higher. Additionally, fossil fuel subsidies can cause hundreds of thousands of deaths from air pollution each year and contribute to global carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that fossil fuel subsidies can make countries more vulnerable to variations in international energy prices. However, some governments argue that these subsidies are necessary to protect citizens from price fluctuations. The G20 countries have pledged to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, but as of 2023, they continue due to voter demand or energy security concerns.
Estimating fossil fuel subsidies can be challenging due to different definitions and methods of calculation. Some estimates include direct subsidies from governments, comparing prices in a country to world market prices, or attempting to include the cost of damage to human health and the environment. According to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), setting fossil fuel prices that reflect their true cost could cut global CO2 emissions by 10% by 2030.
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Fossil fuel consumption by country
Fossil fuels, including oil, coal, and natural gas, remain the primary energy source globally, despite the increasing popularity of renewable energy sources. In 2017, they accounted for 81% of global energy consumption, with a similar figure of 81.5% in 2022. The United Nations has reported that fossil fuels are responsible for over 90% of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing significantly to global warming.
The top fossil fuel-consuming countries are China, the United States, and India. China consumed 140 exajoules of fossil fuels in 2023, while the US consumed 76 exajoules, and India, 35 exajoules. These three countries are responsible for almost half (47%) of worldwide fossil fuel consumption. China is the largest consumer of coal, accounting for 56% of global consumption in 2023. The US, on the other hand, leads in oil consumption, with over 19.1 million barrels consumed per day in 2022, along with 32.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Other countries with notable fossil fuel consumption include Japan, which ranked fifth in global fossil fuel consumption in 2022. That year, Japan imported 180.3 million tons of coal and consumed over 151 million metric tons of oil. South Korea is another significant consumer, importing 960 million barrels of crude oil and 126 million tons of coal in 2021. Canada, with its heavy reliance on oil, consumed upwards of 98 million metric tons of oil in 2022, along with considerable amounts of coal and natural gas.
It is worth noting that some smaller countries have extremely high per capita fossil fuel consumption rates. For instance, Equatorial Guinea, with a population of just over 1.2 million people, consumes 18 metric tons of fossil fuels per person per year. Other countries with high per capita consumption include Estonia, Singapore, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2022, the top exporters of oil to the US were Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Iraq, and Brazil. In the same year, the US remained a net importer of crude oil, importing about 6.28 million barrels per day of crude oil.
In 2023, Germany imported 48.6% of its gas from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. As much as 13.7% of the gas in the German grid could be Russian. Ports in Spain, France, and Belgium continue to receive LNG shipments from Russia.
Fossil fuel consumption has increased significantly over the past half-century, roughly doubling since 1980. About four-fifths of global primary energy comes from coal, oil, and gas.
Germany and the EU remain heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. Germany will likely reduce its overall dependence on energy imports but will continue to rely on supply from within the European network and third countries.
The UK banned imports of Russian gas from the start of 2023. In January 2023, the UK imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia for the tenth month in a row.
