Commendable developments have materialized
By By Air Marshal (Retd) Ayaz Ahmed Khan May 11, 2008 Saudi Arabia with a population of 24,575,000 and
present oil output of nine million barrels a day is a
rich country. After Russia, it has the second largest
oil reserves in the world. Sixty percent of world oil is
in the Middle East, and most of it is under the Saudi desert. Saudi Arabia is hugely benefiting from sky rocketing oil prices. The current years budget surplus of 48 billion dollars reflects a robust economy. But the Saudi economy is dependent on oil, and that makes it vulnerable, because at the rate oil is being consumed, it could run out. Saudi oil also sustains West's industry and economy. If oil ran out, entire world will suffer. It will be a huge set back for Saudi Arabia, because presently its economy is totally oil dependent. Economies of developed countries are dependent on the ME oil, and will face a crisis situation. Saudi Arabia is minting billions from high oil prices, while it is breaking the back of poor countries, which are mostly Muslim.
At the rate Saudi oil is being consumed within the country and outside, it may not last long. Oil does run out as has happened to the oil reserves of the North Sea and Mexico. According to some experts, the rate at which the West and Saudi Arabia are guzzling oil, Saudi oil reserves may not last for more than nine years. Saudi's are consuming oil faster than any other country. Most Saudi's are not worried, because they think they are sitting on a sea of oil. But King Abdullah has taken cognisance of oil being guzzled by oil fired electricity plants, oil refineries, cement and steel mills de-salination water plants, and very high domestic electricity consumption. Saudi culture is highly consumption oriented. Oil guzzling big American vehicles like Hummers, Chevrolets, Fords, Lincons, Cadillacs, Chryslers, Tahoe's and Suburban's clog Saudi roads and highways, literally drink oil. With the Rs 12 per liter petrol, and Rs for a litre of diesel, POL is almost free in Saudi Arabia. Saudi's joke that Japanese cars are for America and American cars are for us. The low cost of electricity encourages Saudi consumers to waste electricity by keeping air conditioners running round the clock. New industries burning huge quantities of oil and gas coming on line will increase oil consumption many fold. The common Saudi has no thought that oil could run out. Using 32 barrels of oil per person, Saudi's are world's biggest oil consumers. Presently out of one hundred barrels produced, twenty-two barrels are consumed at home. In ten years domestic consumption will be 33 barrels out of one hundred barrels produced. Oil has made Saudi Arabia one of the wealthiest nations. There is lack of awareness that most Muslim countries are very poor. Million of Muslims are starving. Some think tanks report youth unemployment is 30% in Saudi Arabia. The







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