BP has published its annual Statistical Review or World Energy with the news that, as energy consumption rebounds after recession, China has overtaken the US as the world's largest consumer.
The Review also showed that primary energy consumption grew by 5.6% in 201, the largest percentage increase for 38 years and. While oil remains the leading source of fuel, taking 33.6% of global consumption, it continued to lose overall market share for the 11th year running.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, China has surged ahead as the world's largest energy consumer, taking 20.3% of the market but the country also made its fair share of output contribution, recording its largest ever increase in oil production along with the US and Russia. Within OPEC, Nigeria and Qatar were the largest producers. Norway registered the largest global decline in oil output.
Globally, world proved oil reserves in 2010 were down slightly on the previous year as production surged, at 46.2 years of global output, while proved reserves rose slightly year-on-year.
When it came to regional reserves-to-production (R/P) ratios last year, the Middle East showed a continued decline and lost its traditionally dominant position, at a little over 80%, to Latin America which surged to a 93.9 ratio thanks to a significant increase in Venezuelan official reserve estimates. However, Latin American refinery utilisation dropped significantly over the same period against other regions.
Europe and Eurasia lead the way by a massive margin in terms of natural gas pipeline exports and imports as well heading the R/P ratio table for coal, which remains the most abundant fossil fuel globally. China is the world's largest coal producer, up 9% on 2009.
The Review also included detailed renewable figures, showing global nuclear generation grew by 2%; hydroelectric output doubled its historical average, up 5.3% and biofuel output increased by 13.8% with ethanol accounting for neary 75% of global biofuel production.