부산대학교 도서관

Current total proven oil and gas reserves in the Middle East, located mostly in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman, are estimated at 367.3 billion barrels of oil and 16 trillion cubic meters of gas. These figures represent, respectively, about 67% of the total free world's proven oil reserves and 41% of its total gas reserves. Saudi Arabia's oil reserves, estimated at over 151 billion barrels, are the largest in any single country. International economic and political implications related to Middle East oil and gas policy since the end of WWII are examined. The major motivating factors contributing towards evolution of oil and gas policy in the Middle East include: (a) the producing countries' fundamental desire to gain effective national control over their oil and gas resources; (b) diversification of the sources of their national incomes; (c) development of integrated national oil and gas enterprises with special emphasis on development of a national marketing capability to serve both the domestic and the international oil and gas markets; (d) increased processing of petroleum in the producing countries; (e) increased national participation in the international energy-transportation industry; (f) augmentation of current oil and gas reserves and production capacities; (g) conservation of depleting oil and gas resources; and (h) development of alternative sources of energy and international cooperation, with special emphasis on assistance to and protection of developing countries' interests in the field of energy. These factors are used to discuss policy implications in Saudi Arabia. (MCW)