Sweden sets timetable to phase out oil use
Wed 02 August 2006
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The Swedish Government has announced the intention of phasing out the nation's use of oil by 2020. The main drivers of the move from fossil fuels to renewable power generation are the threat of climate change combined with the fear that oil supplies may be near their peak.
According to a report in The Guardian, the details of the initiative are being scoped out by a committee of industrialists, academics, farmers, car makers, civil servants and other key stakeholders.
Mona Sahlin, Sweden's minister of sustainable development said: "A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices."
Sweden, a country of 9 million people, that was badly hit by the oil price rises in the 1970s, now gets most of its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power.
The country's fossil fuel consumption is mainly in the transport sector where it plans to increase the development of biofuels derived from its very large forest area. The Swedish Government is working with carmakers Saab and Volvo to develop cars and lorries using various biofuels.
In 2003, 26% of all the energy consumed in Sweden came from renewable sources - compared with the EU average of 6%.
Related Links
The Guardian story link
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