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Date November 2013 Marks available 1 Reference code 13N.1.bp.4
Level SL and HL Paper 1 Time zone
Command term Identify Question number 4 Adapted from N/A

Question

The table ranks the ten countries which had the largest oil consumption in 2010.

Rank Country Oil consumption (thousands of barrels/day)
1 USA 19 148
2 Country A 9057
3 Japan 4451
4 India 3319
5 Russia 3199
6 Saudi Arabia 2812
7 Brazil 2604
8 Germany 2441
9 South Korea 2384
10 Canada 2276

[Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2011]

Identify Country A.

[1]
a.

Briefly describe what is meant by the OPEC cartel.

[2]
b.

Explain two geopolitical impacts of the rise in global oil consumption since 1990.

[4]
c.

Suggest two reasons why sources of renewable energy have become more important in many countries in recent years.

[4]
d.

Markscheme

China [1 mark].

a.

Award [1 mark] for a comment that recognizes what OPEC is – eg the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries or names of the members (Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela). Award [1 mark] for the operation as a cartel – formed to fix prices and/or production quotas.

b.

There are many possibilities.

Award [1 mark] for each basic explanation of a valid impact and a further [1 mark] for its development.

The increase in global consumption has led to geopolitical pressures in some parts of the world as oil-hungry countries seek additional supplies of oil to meet their anticipated future demand. It has increased tensions in parts of the Middle East since that area has the world’s largest oil reserves to which oil-importing countries such as the US want to preserve their access. Equally, it has led to growing international tension over likely sources of oil, such as those in the Arctic, Sudan and South China Sea, that are currently not exploited. On the other hand, the rise in consumption has led to higher prices for oil, leading to more investment in non-oil sources of energy. Reference may be made to conflicts that have their origin in the securing of access to oil supplies. Comments may refer to variations in the rate of increase with NICs having a faster increase in demand which causes tensions. Some impacts may arise through the transport of oil and pollution incidents that are a consequence – be careful to credit only where they lead to geopolitical impacts.

c.

Award [1 mark] for each valid reason, and an additional [1 mark] for its development, exemplification or further explanation.

Possible reasons could include:

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.

Syllabus sections

Core » Patterns in resource consumption » Changing patterns of energy consumption
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