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Indigenous production of energy fell by 9.5 per cent in the UK during 2005 as the country became a net importer of fuel for the second successive year, according to official figures.

The latest annual digest of energy statistics also showed the gap widening with primary energy consumption rising by 0.5 per cent while production decreased to 215.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

Last year, the UK imported more coal, manufactured fuels, crude oil, electricity and gas than it exported, but remained a net exporter of petroleum products despite output from refineries falling by 4.5 per cent.

Also worrying for the government was that the increased demand for fossil fuels provisionally increased the emissions of carbon dioxide by 0.25 per cent in 2005.

A higher price differential increased the commercial
attractiveness of coal for electricity generation, while decreasing the amount of electricity generated from gas to 39 per cent.

The new digest, which brings together statistics from a variety of sources, provides comprehensive data for 2005 and an account of trends in energy supply and demand in the United Kingdom.

Natural gas production fell 9 per cent in 2005, while crude oil production dropped by 11 per cent. The decreases are for the fifth successive year since North Sea output reached its peak in 2000.

Coal production, which has been in decline for more than 30 years, was down by a further 18.5 per cent, with imports up by 21.5 per cent to a record of 44 million tones.

On consumption, overall gas demand fell by 3 per cent, mainly due to a drop in its share in electricity generation to 39 per cent, but oil consumption, despite record rises in prices, rose by 2 per cent, with the majority consumed by transport.

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-23 ... 174303.htm

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