Energy security

Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led to significant vulnerabilities. Threats to energy security include the political instability of several energy producing countries, the manipulation of energy supplies, the competition over energy sources, attacks on supply infrastructure, as well as accidents and natural disasters.^[1] The limited supplies, uneven distribution, and rising costs of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, create a need to change to more sustainable energy sources in the foreseeable future.

Security threats

One of the leading threats to energy security is the significant increase in energy prices, either on the world markets – as has occurred in a number of energy crises over the years – or by the imposition of price increases by an oligopoly or monopoly supplier, cartel or country. In some cases the threat might come from a single energy superpower – those states able to significantly influence world markets by their action alone. Rather than just manipulating prices, such suppliers might go beyond this by suspending or terminating supplies. This has been done to apply pressure during economic negotiations - such as during the Russia-Belarus energy dispute - or to apply political pressure, for example by OPEC in response to Western support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Suspension of supplies may also come about as a result of worldwide international sanctions against a country.

Energy plays an important role in the national security of any given country as a fuel to power the economic engine.^[2] Hence, threats to energy security can also result from physical damage to the energy infrastructure either of the supplier, or of the importer as a result of natural events, misfortune, terrorism, or warfare. The political and economic instability caused by war or other factors such as strike action can also prevent the proper functioning of the energy industry in a supplier country.

In recent years, new threats to energy security have emerged in the form of the increased world competition for energy resources due to the increased pace of industrialization in countries such as India and China. Although still a minority concern, the possibility of price rises resulting from the peaking of world oil production is also starting to attract the attention of at least the French government.^[3]

Increased competition over energy resources may also lead to the formation of security compacts to enable an equitable distribution of oil and gas between major powers. However, this may happen at the expense of less developed economies. The Group of Five, precursors to the G8, first met in 1975 to coordinate economic and energy policies in the wake of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, a rise in inflation and a global economic slowdown.^[4]

NATO leaders meeting in Bucharest in April 2008 may discuss the possibility of using the military alliance "as an instrument of energy security." One of the possibilities include placing troops in the Caucasus region to police oil and gas pipelines.^[5]

Long term security

Long term measures to increase energy security center on reducing dependence on any one source of imported energy, increasing the number of suppliers, exploiting native fossil fuel or renewable energy resources, and reducing overall demand through energy conservation measures. It can also involve entering into international agreements to underpin international energy trading relationships, such as the Energy Charter Treaty in Europe.

The impact of the 1973 oil crisis and the emergence of the OPEC cartel was a particular milestone that prompted some countries to increase their energy security. Japan, almost totally dependent on imported oil, steadily introduced the use of natural gas, nuclear power, high-speed mass transit systems, and implemented energy conservation measures,^[6] It has become one of the world leaders in the use of renewable energy.^[7] The United Kingdom began exploiting North Sea oil and gas reserves, and became a net exporter of energy into the 2000s.

In other countries energy security has historically been a lower priority. The United States, for example, has continued to increase its dependency on imported oil^[6] although, following the oil price increases since 2003, the development of biofuels has been suggested as a means of addressing this.^[8]

Increasing energy security is also one of the reasons behind plans for an oil phase-out in Sweden, together with a block on the development of natural gas imports. Greater investment in native renewable energy technologies and energy conservation is envisaged instead. India is carrying out a major hunt for domestic oil to decrease its dependency on OPEC, while Iceland is well advanced in its plans to become energy-independent by 2050 through deploying 100% renewable energy.

Short term security

Petroleum

Many countries hold strategic petroleum reserves as a buffer against the economic and political impacts of an energy crisis. All 28 members of the International Energy Agency hold a minimum of 90 days of their oil imports, for example.^[9]^[10]

The value of such reserves was demonstrated by the relative lack of disruption caused by the 2007 Russia-Belarus energy dispute, when Russia indirectly cut exports to several countries in the European Union.

Natural gas

Compared to petroleum, reliance on imported natural gas creates significant short term vulnerabilities. Many European countries saw an immediate drop in supply when Russian gas supplies were halted during the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute in 2006.

Nuclear power

Uranium for nuclear power is mined and enriched in diverse and "stable" countries. These include Canada (23% of the world's total in 2007), Australia (21%), Kazakhstan (16%) and more than 10 other countries. Uranium is mined and fuel is manufactured significantly in advance of need. Nuclear fuel is considered by some to be a relatively-reliable power source, though a debate over the timing of peak uranium does exist.

Renewable energy

The deployment of renewable technologies usually increases the diversity of electricity sources and, through local generation, contributes to the flexibility of the system and its resistance to central shocks. For those countries where growing dependence on imported gas is a significant energy security issue, renewable technologies can provide alternative sources of electric power as well as displacing electricity demand through direct heat production. Renewable biofuels for transport represent a key source of diversification from petroleum products.^[11]

References

^ "Power plays: Energy and Australia's security". Aspi.org.au. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
^ "Emerald: Article Request - Sino-Indian cooperation in the search for overseas petroleum resources: Prospects and implications for India" (PDF). Emeraldinsight.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
^ Porter, Adam (2005-06-10). "'Peak oil' enters mainstream debate". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
^ Panoptic World: "Globocops of Energy Security" Mathew Maavak, originally published in The Korea Herald on July 18, 2006
^ "Climate change may spark conflict with Russia, EU told" Guardian, March 10, 2008
^ ^a ^b Oil Crisis, US Senator Bob Bennett, September 27, 2000^{[dead link‍]}
^ US Energy Information Administration Country Analysis Briefs, Japan: Environmental Issue, January 2004
^ CNN: Oil majors question Bush biofuel plan, February 15, 2007^{[dead link‍]}
^ http://www.iea.org/Textbase/work/2002/beijing/KUOLT2.PDF
^ Margaret Baker. "Reauthorization of the Energy Policy & Conservation Act". Agiweb.org. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
^ "Contribution of renewables to Energy Security" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-06-01.

External links

Dr. Daniel Fine of M.I.T creates a new Energy Security paradigm
Journal of Energy Security
Institute for the Analysis of Global Security: Energy Security Research
Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI)
NATO and Energy Security
Closing the Gap Between Energy & National Security Policy
Energy Security as National Security: Defining Problems Ahead of Solutions
High Speed Rail and Energy Security
Energy Security Implications of the US-India Nuclear Deal
Collective Energy Security: A New Approach for Europe
Canadian Arctic Energy Security
Can The United States Drill Its Way to Energy Security?
Tax Oil Organization
Energy Export Databrowser - A visual review of production and consumption trends for individual nations; data from the British Petroleum Statistical Review

[1] "Power plays: Energy and Australia's security". Aspi.org.au. Retrieved 2010-06-01.

[2] "Emerald: Article Request - Sino-Indian cooperation in the search for overseas petroleum resources: Prospects and implications for India" (PDF). Emeraldinsight.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.

[3] Porter, Adam (2005-06-10). "'Peak oil' enters mainstream debate". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-06-01.

[4] Panoptic World: "Globocops of Energy Security" Mathew Maavak, originally published in The Korea Herald on July 18, 2006

[5] "Climate change may spark conflict with Russia, EU told" Guardian, March 10, 2008

[bennett2000-6] Oil Crisis, US Senator Bob Bennett, September 27, 2000^{[dead link‍]}

[7] US Energy Information Administration Country Analysis Briefs, Japan: Environmental Issue, January 2004

[8] CNN: Oil majors question Bush biofuel plan, February 15, 2007^{[dead link‍]}

[9] ttp://www.iea.org/Textbase/work/2002/beijing/KUOLT2.PDF

[10] Margaret Baker. "Reauthorization of the Energy Policy & Conservation Act". Agiweb.org. Retrieved 2010-06-01.

[IEA-11] "Contribution of renewables to Energy Security" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-06-01.

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