FOSSIL FUEL USE HITS RECORD IN POWER-HUNGRY WORLD

In a landmark report, the Energy Institute (EI) has painted a vivid picture of an energy-hungry world grappling with record consumption levels, burgeoning renewable energy generation, and the persistent challenge of fossil fuel dependency.

- ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

Data from the 73rd annual edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy highlights several key trends. Global primary energy consumption surged to an unprecedented 620 Exajoules (EJ), marking a 2 per cent increase from the previous year. The report was coauthored with KPMG and Kearney.

Fossil fuel consumption also hit a record high, rising by 1.5 per cent to 505 EJ, propelled by coal, which increased by 1.6 per cent, and oil, which saw a 2 per cent rise, surpassing 100 million barrels daily for the first time.

Despite a slight reduction in their share of the energy mix to 81.5 per cent, emissions from energy activities soared by 2 per cent, crossing the 40 gigatonnes of CO2 threshold for the first time.