12 Environmental management
Energy pathways crossing difficult environments
As energy companies have had to search further afield for new sources of oil, new energy pathways have had to be constructed. Some major oil and gas pipelines cross some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline crosses three mountain ranges and several large rivers. Much of the pipeline is above ground to avoid the permafrost. Engineers fly over the pipeline every day by helicopter to check for leaks and other problems. Incidents such as subsidence have closed the pipeline for short periods.
Energy pathways are supply routes between energy producers and consumers, which may be pipelines, shipping routes or electricity cables.
Now test yourself 1 2 3 4
Tested
Define ‘energy mix’. List three technologies that can extend the life of fossil fuels. What are the main environmental concerns about the development of hydroelectricity? How important is fuelwood in LEDCs?
Answers on p.221
12.2 The management of energy supply China overtook the USA in total energy usage in 2009. The demand for energy in China continues to increase significantly as the country expands its industrial base. In 2008, China’s energy consumption breakdown by traditional energy sources was: l coal – 70.2% l oil – 18.7% l hydroelectricity – 6.6% l natural gas – 3.6% l nuclear energy – 0.75%
Expert tip This is a case study about the way in which the Chinese government has managed energy supply. Make sure you highlight the main decisions that the government has taken to ensure China’s energy security.
China’s energy strategy China’s energy policy has evolved over time. As the economy expanded rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s much emphasis was placed on China’s main energy resource, coal (Figure 12.4). China was also an exporter of oil until the early 1990s; it is now a very significant importer. Chinese investment in energy resources abroad has risen rapidly. Long-term energy security is viewed as essential if the country is to maintain the pace of its industrial revolution. 7 6 5
Coalmining deaths, thousands
4 3 2
Coal output, thousand million tonnes
1 0 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Figure 12.4 China’s coal output, 1995–2008
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Cambridge International AS and A Level Geography Revision Guide
Revised
