. . . a very detailed and fascinating description of the development of China s oil and natural gas industry and an assessment of its prospects. . . certainly a recommended read. Anthony D. Owen, Asia Pacific Journal of Economics and Business . . . this book should be a part of the library of anyone interested in the Chinese energy system. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies This is a timely and important book to help enhance understanding of China s petroleum industry and to assess China s energy policy in a more sensible way. Janet Xuanli Liao, The China Journal This is a timely volume. Understanding the oil and gas industry that China has at home is an essential prerequisite to understanding Chinese foreign policy and the future role of China in world oil and gas markets. It is certain to be a major one. From the preface by Ron Oxburgh, Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool, (Climate Change Capital) China s rapid economic development is having profound implications for energy resources. China has always been exceptionally reliant on its abundant coal, but consumption of oil and gas have grown rapidly since reform began in the 1980s. In spite of vigorous domestic development most recently in the Tarim Basin China is now consuming approximately 8 per cent of the world s oil output but producing only 4 per cent. China s emergence as an energy importer has given rise to concerns that it is a major contributor to recent turmoil in energy markets. This book examines China s record of oil and gas development, its refining capacity, and energy prospects. The authors conclude that there are no fundamental reasons for anxiety about China s demands on the world energy economy, but they emphasize that its energy future will depend critically on a continuation of reform and internationalization. China and the Global Energy Crisis is a concise but detailed study of these issues. This book will appeal not only to readers concerned with China and energy issues, but also to a wider readership seeking to understand China s development and its global meaning.

One cubic mile of oil (CMO) corresponds very closely to the world's current total annual consumption of crude oil. The world's total annual energy consumption - from all energy sources- is currently 3.0 CMO. By the middle of this century the world will need between 6 and 9 CMO of energy per year to provide for its citizens. Adequate energy is needed remove the scourge of poverty and provide food, clothing, and shelter for the people around the world, and more will be needed for measures to mitigate the potential effects of climate change such as building dikes and desalinating water. A Cubic Mile of Oil describes the various energy sources and how we use them, projects their future contributions, and delineates what it would take to develop them to annually produce a CMO from each of them. The requirement for additional energy in the future is so daunting that we will need to use all resources. We also examine how improved efficiency and conservation measures can reduce future demand substantially, and help distinguish approaches that make a significant impact as opposed to merely making us feel good. Use of CMO eliminates a multitude of units like tons of coal, gallons of oil, and cubic feet of gas; obviates the need for mind-numbing multipliers such as billions, trillions, and quadrillions; and replaces them with an easy-to-understand volumetric unit. It evokes a visceral response and allows experts, policy makers and the general public alike to form a mental picture of the magnitude of the challenge we face. In the absence of an appreciation of the scale of the problem, we risk squandering efforts and resources in pursuing options that will not meet tomorrow's global energy needs. We must make critical choices, and a common understandable language is essential for a sustained meaningful dialog.

Discusses the power shortage facing America in the next two decades and proposes an energy program designed to safeguard against the exhaustion of natural resources.