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Title: UK GOVERNMENT: Advance energy statistics Summary: Provisional statistics showing energy production and consumption and petroleum product prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 are published today (8 February 2000) by the Department of Trade and Industry. Some figures for typical retail prices of motor spirit and diesel fuel in January are also given.

Source: M2 Communications Ltd.

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UK GOVERNMENT: Advance energy statistics

Story Filed: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 8:58 AM EST

FEB 8, 2000, M2 Communications - Provisional statistics showing energy production and consumption and petroleum product prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 are published today (8 February 2000) by the Department of Trade and Industry. Some figures for typical retail prices of motor spirit and diesel fuel in January are also given.

Provisional figures for 1999 as a whole are also published for the first time. The main points are:

Energy production in 1999 was 3.5 per cent higher than in 1998

Oil production was up 3.5 per cent to 137 million tonnes, 3.5 per cent higher that the previous record level achieved in 1998. 9 new fields started production in the year.

Natural gas production was up 9.5 per cent, a new high which continues the trend of increasing production seen in recent years.

Coal production was down by 9 per cent. Deep mined production was down by 16.5 per cent but opencast production rose by 1 per cent. In the last 14 months three deep mines have closed and one partially closed.

Primary electricity was down 4 per cent. Nuclear electricity generation fell by 4 per cent while hydro output increased by 5.5 per cent.

Primary energy consumption in 1999 was 1.5 per cent lower than in 1998.

Coal consumption was down 13.5 per cent with consumption at power stations 16.5 per cent lower.

Oil consumption was down 1.5 per cent to 73.5 million tonnes because of a continuing decline in fuel oil use for electricity generation.

Gas consumption was up 6 per cent. Use in power stations was the major factor behind the increase with a growth of 19 per cent during the year.

Production of indigenous primary fuels in 1999 at 297.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent, was 3.5 per cent higher than in 1998.

Production of coal and primary electricity fell by 9.1 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively. Whilst production of oil and natural gas rose by 3.4 per cent and 9.6 per cent respectively.

Primary electricity fell by 3.7 per cent because of higher levels of outages at nuclear stations for maintenance and repair. Nuclear output was down by 3.9 per cent

Total inland consumption of primary fuels, which includes deliveries into consumption, during 1999, at 225.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent, was 1.3 per cent less than in 1998. Consumption of coal, oil and primary electricity fell by 13.6 per cent, 1.7 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectively, whilst consumption of gas rose by 5.8 per cent.

Coal consumption fell more sharply than coal production because the use of coal in power stations was 16.5 per cent lower in 1999 than the relatively high figure in 1998. During 1998 coal fired power stations were called on to make up for reduced electricity imports from France and for reductions in output from some gas and nuclear stations in the UK, raising power station coal consumption by 3 per cent over 1997.

Total use of petroleum, including non-energy use, in 1999 was 79.6 million tonnes, 2.6 per cent lower than in 1998. Energy use decreased by 1.8 per cent while non-energy use increased by 0.7 per cent. Total motor spirit deliveries were 1.2 per cent lower, but deliveries of unleaded petrol were 9.7 per cent higher. Over the year, unleaded petrol deliveries (excluding Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP)) represented 87.2 per cent of total motor spirit deliveries, compared with 78.6 per cent in 1998. Derv fuel deliveries increased by 0.3 per cent while deliveries of other gas diesel oils, primarily used for heating purposes, decreased by 6.8 per cent. Fuel oil deliveries fell by 24.1 per cent as a result of the general move away from fuel oil as a source of energy by industry continuing during 1999. Deliveries of other products increased by 2.5 per cent (increased deliveries of aviation turbine fuel (up 4.5 per cent) were offset by decreased deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases (down 7.6 per cent) and burning oil (down 1.0 per cent)).

Production of indigenous primary fuels in the three months to December 1999, at 79.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent, was 0.2 per cent higher than in the corresponding period a year ago. Production of coal fell by 13.3 per cent, whilst production of oil and gas rose by 1.1 per cent and 6.0 per cent respectively. Production of primary electricity fell by 14.5 per cent, within which nuclear output fell by 14.9 per cent because of substantially higher levels of outages at nuclear stations for maintenance and repair. Hydro output rose by 4.8 per cent.

Total inland consumption of primary fuels, which includes deliveries into consumption, during the three months to December 1999, at 61.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent, was 1.9 per cent lower than that recorded for the same period a year ago. Consumption of gas rose by 4.1 per cent, whilst consumption of coal, oil and primary electricity fell by 11.5 per cent, 1.9 per cent and 13.7 per cent respectively.

Within primary electricity, nuclear consumption was 14.9 per cent lower but hydro was 4.8 per cent higher and imports of electricity from France 5.3 per cent higher.

Total use of petroleum, including non-energy use, in the period October to December 1999 was 20.3 million tonnes, 3.5 per cent lower than a year earlier. Energy use decreased by 1.8 per cent and non-energy use decreased by 4.0 per cent. Total motor spirit deliveries were up 0.1 per cent, with deliveries of unleaded petrol 13.7 per cent higher. In the period, unleaded petrol deliveries (excluding Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP)) represented 91.8 per cent of total motor spirit deliveries, compared with 80.8 per cent a year earlier. Derv fuel deliveries increased by 2.7 per cent, while deliveries of other gas diesel oils, primarily used for heating purposes, decreased by 12.7 per cent. Fuel oil deliveries fell by 28.7 per cent, continuing their decline as a source of energy for industry and electricity generation. Deliveries of other products increased by 1.7 per cent (increased deliveries of aviation turbine fuel (up 3.4 per cent) and liquefied petroleum gases (up 6.7 per cent) were partly offset by decreased deliveries of burning oil (down 3.6 per cent)).

Prices of motor spirits have remained at about the same level in the month to mid January as in December whilst the price of diesel increased slightly. There had been sharp increases in all motor fuels in the month to mid December and prices remain well above those of mid November. The recent increases in crude oil prices due to continued adherence by key oil producers to production targets is continuing to push up product prices. In terms of prices at the pump, figures show that prices of motor spirit remained virtually unchanged in the month to mid January, whilst diesel prices rose by less than 0.5 pence per litre.

In the year to mid-January 2000, rises of 12.5, 11.3 and 13.9 pence per litre were seen for premium unleaded, lead replacement petrol (LRP) and diesel respectively - these represent increases of around 16 to 22 per cent in the price of these fuels.

In the month to mid-December, the price of super unleaded fell by 0.1 pence per litre and was around 5.5 per cent higher than a year ago; an actual increase of 4.4 pence per litre.

During 1999 the price of motor fuels rose significantly. Most of the increase took place after March as crude oil prices began to pick up following the very low prices seen at the start of the year. The rate of increase slowed down around the middle of the year, however there have continued to be increases over most of the period. Changes in product prices have largely been driven by the changes in crude oil prices as key oil producers maintained production targets in order to prevent further falls in the price from the low of December 1998.

Notes to editors

1. Primary electricity It should be noted that primary electricity consists of nuclear electricity, natural flow hydro electricity and, for consumption, net imports of electricity from France. Annual data also includes electricity generated from other renewable sources (e.g. wind, photovoltaics, etc.). In 1998 primary electricity is estimated to have accounted for about 32 per cent of all electricity available in the United Kingdom.

2. Other statistical publications More detailed figures of United Kingdom energy consumption and production for the three months to November and the whole of 1998 are given in the January 2000 edition of ENERGY TRENDS, the Department's monthly statistical bulletin on energy, published on 27 January 2000.

3. More detailed annual data on energy production and consumption for the years 1994 to 1998 are published in the DIGEST OF UNITED KINGDOM ENERGY STATISTICS 1999, published by the Stationery Office on 29 July 1999 (price GBP32.95).

4. The 1999 Energy Report updates Government energy policy and details the continuing evolution of the energy sector towards full competition and main developments within each of the energy sectors. The Energy Report, was published by the Stationery Office on 24 December 1999 (price GBP39.50).

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

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-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 08, 2000

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