HC Deb 09 July 1973 vol 859 c247W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many years' oil supply is left in the world, from present known sources, and assuming no increase in demand from today's level.

Mr. Tom Boardman

According to published estimates, world consumption of liquid fuels in 1972, including the USSR, Eastern Europe, and the Asian Communist countries, was about 2,600 million metric tons and at the end of that year the world proved reserves of oil, excluding the oil content of shales and tar sands, were about 90,000 million metric tons. On the basis of these figures, the world's reserves are equal to 35 years' supply.