Due to the length of time it takes to change from one energy technology to another, it was not until the late 1940"s that oil surpassed coal as the worlds major energy source. World oil use peaked in 1979 when daily production passed 66 million barrels per day (W.Cunningham et al 1993). This was not without problems however. In 1973, the recognition of the increasing dependence of industrialised nations on oil along with tensions between America and the middle east led to a tenfold rise in oil prices by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The sudden price rises were a major source of debt burdens in many developing countries, and is today held responsible for the world economic recession that became evident in the late 1970"s and early 1980"s.

             During the early 1980"s with increasing concerns about conservation by environmentalists and the concerns from Politicians and Industrialists saw the need for safer, 'greener" energy sources. Environmental problems from the burning of fossil fuels came to dominate the headlines of world media with issues such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain and water pollution.

             It was not until August 1990 that the supply of oil came to the attention of the world media and industrialised nations again. The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein brought a new dimension to the west"s dependence on oil. It showed they were willing to fight wars for it, under the guise of liberating Kuwait from an evil dictator. The following military build up in the region cumulated in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

             Today fossil fuels provide about 95% of all commercial energy in the world (W. Cunningham et al 1995). Approximately 1,200 million people living in developed, industrialised countries consume over two-thirds of this total energy supply, while less than one-third goes to the 4,100 million people living in the developed world (K.Pickering and L.Owen 1995).