[THS] Key Oil Figures Were Distorted by US Pressure, Says Whistleblower

[Peter Webster]

http://www.truthout.org/topstories/111009sg01

Key Oil Figures Were Distorted by US Pressure, Says Whistleblower

 Terry Macalister, Guardian UK

Monday 09 November 2009


Exclusive: Watchdog's estimates of reserves inflated says top official.

The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according
to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been
deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.

The senior official claims the US has played an influential role in encouraging the
watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying
the chances of finding new reserves.

The allegations raise serious questions about the accuracy of the organisation's latest
World Energy Outlook on oil demand and supply to be published tomorrow – which is
used by the British and many other governments to help guide their wider energy
and climate change policies.

Read more about the potential innacuracy of the latest World Energy Outlook on oil
demand and supply by clicking here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency