6.4C Role of energy players

• Energy Players:

  • Energy pathways involve different forms of transport, including tanker ships, pipelines and electricity transmission grids
  • There are five major players in the world of energy:
  • TNCs
  • Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
  • Energy companies
  • Consumers
  • Governments
• Energy Players:

  • Energy pathways involve different forms of transport, including tanker ships, pipelines and electricity transmission grids
  • There are five major players in the world of energy:
  • TNCs
  • Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
  • Energy companies
  • Consumers
  • Governments

  
• TNCs:

  • An estimated 50% of the big players in oil and gas (e.g., BP, ExxonMobil) are state owned and so under government control which means technically they are not TNCs
  • The majority of these companies are involved in a variety of operations including exploring, extracting, transporting, refining and producing petrochemicals
• OPEC:

  • OPEC currently has 13 member countries owning around two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves between them
  • As a result, OPEC is able to control the amount of gas and oil in the global market along with their prices
  • OPEC have been accused of forcing up the price of oil and gas by withholding/slowing production 
• Energy companies:

  • Most companies are involved in the distribution of both primary energy (e.g., gas) and secondary energy (electricity) which means they have a strong influence over consumer prices and tariffs
• Governments:

  • Governments can play various different roles, for example, they look after energy security and can have an impact on how energy is sourced
• Consumer:

  • The most important consumers are in transport, industry and domestic sectors
  • Consumers tend to have little impact on energy prices