ECO16: Stocks of critical fuels per corresponding fuel consumption Brief Definition Ratio of the stocks of critical energy fuels to the
daily, monthly or annual use of the corresponding
fuel. Critical fuel is usually oil. Some countries
might consider other fuels critical (e.g. natural gas,
ethanol, etc.)
Units Percentage
Alternative Definitions Total fuel stocks
Agenda 21 Chapter 4: Consumption and production patterns
POLICY RELEVANCE (a) Purpose: The purpose of this indicator is to measure the availability of national
stocks of critical fuels, such as oil, with respect to corresponding fuel consumption.
Many countries maintain stocks of oil in anticipation of disruptions in oil supply. For
some countries, the critical fuel might be natural gas or other types of fuel. For
example, ethanol is a critical fuel for the Brazilian transportation sector. The indicator
provides a relative measure of the length of time that stocks would last if supply were
disrupted and fuel use were to continue at current levels.
(b) Relevance to Sustainable Development: The availability and security of fuel
supplies are key aspects of sustainability. This indicator provides a basis for
estimating energy supply security by indicating the relation between the current
availability of critical fuel stocks and levels of consumption. Maintaining strategic
stocks of critical fuels might be a necessary component of a national sustainable
energy programme. Fuel stocks over fuel consumption represents a type of ‘response’
indicator that might be important to countries in critical fuel supply situations, such as
a world oil crisis, disruptions of natural gas distribution systems, etc.
