In 2007, Germany was one of the world’s largest energy consumers, consuming, according to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, 2393.43 thousand barrels a day of oil, 2.84% of the world total. With limited domestic hydrocarbon reserves other than coal, Germany relies on imports to meet most of its energy needs. According to Eurostat, Germany imported 2.1 million bbl/d of crude oil during the first seven months of 2006, with most imports coming from Russia, Norway and Libya.
According to Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), Germany had 367 million barrels of proven oil reserves in January 2006. Most of these reserves are located in northern and northeastern Germany. The country produced 170,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil in 2005, of which 67,000 bbl/d (39 percent) was crude oil. According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Germany had 2007 proved natural gas reserves of 0.13 trillion cubic metres, 0.07% of the world total. According to the same survey, Germany had 2007 natural gas production of 14.3 billion cubic metres and natural gas consumption of 82.74 billion cubic metres.
Due to its central location in Europe, Germany is a major natural gas pipeline transit hub for imports from Russia and the North Sea. The 440-mile Minveraloelverbungleitung (MVL) connects the cities of Rostock, Schwedt, and Spergau in eastern Germany and is majority-owned by France’s Total.
Since the late 1990s, the German government has been promoting the use of renewable energy to meet a larger share of the country’s total primary energy consumption, as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2000, the German government set a goal of meeting 4.5% of the country’s total primary energy consumption from renewables by 2010. According to the German government, by 2050 half of Germany’s entire energy demand is expected to be met by solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal sources. The country is already the world’s leader in power generation from wind.
According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Germany had a 2007 refinery capacity of 2390.38 thousand barrels a day, 2.71% of the world total.
