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Peat
united Kingdom summary 2000–2004
Commodity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Perlite
united Kingdom summary 2000–2004
Commodity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Tonnes £ thousand
Perlite
Imports (a) 94 580 46 250 95 912 59 046 91 914 3 005 2 343 4 201 2 986 2 294
Exports (a) 9 614 720 695 1 025 7 256 112 103 174 252 436
(a) Figure believed to be too high.
Thousand cubic metres £ thousand
Peat
Production 1 626 1 814 973 2 008 1 262
Tonnes
Imports
Peat and agglomerated peat 407 226 414 833 441 213 520 464 512 650 24 512 25 620 26 787 28 572 28 965
Exports
Peat and agglomerated peat 38 412 35 551 33 331 38 860 32 716 3 405 2 993 2 842 3 760 3 630
Petroleum and natural gas (also see Primary fuels)
Once again the price of crude oil was a major concern throughout the year. From just over $40 per barrel at the beginning of
January the price climbed to its yearly maximum of just over $67 per barrel at the end of August after which it steadied somewhat
(Figure 1). This represents a 225 per cent increase in price since January 2004. It is apparent from Figure 2 that the last few years
have seen the maximum rates of increase after relative price stability through the 1990s and up to the end of 2003.
The post-consultation report for the Fifth Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) was published in January 2005. The area
of the report covered approximately 78 000 square kilometres of the East Shetland Platform, the Inner Moray Firth and the Inner
and Outer Firth of Forth. Blocks in the area were subsequently included in the 23rd Offshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round (see
below).
In February the UK and Norwegian governments announced that a Framework Treaty had been agreed for co-operation between
the two countries. This would speed up the development of cross-border fields, construction of submarine pipelines and ensure
optimal use of existing infrastructure.
In September the SEA6 report was published. This covered the area of the North Channel (between Scotland and Northern
Ireland), the Firth of Clyde, most of the UK parts of the Irish Sea and Cardigan Bay. Public consultation closed on 31st January
2006.
During 2005 work started on the SEA7 area which comprises the UK designated area west of Scotland and extends several
hundred kilometres from the Scottish coast into the North Atlantic Ocean and from the UK–Faroe Islands median line in the north
to the UK–Irish median line in the south.
Details of data specifically acquired for the SEAs programme can be accessed through the UK DEAL website (www.ukdeal.
co.uk). Downloadable files of the SEA reports can be accessed at www.offshore-sea.org.uk.
The UK DEAL Data Registry continued to develop in 2005. In particular, UKOOA commissioned a new feature illustrating
pipeline systems where spare capacity could be made available, complying with the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP). This
allows potential developers of new fields to identify appropriate infrastructure and negotiate fluid transportation with a third
party.
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