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Warning over Europe's dwindling energy supplies

Europe's oil, gas and coal reserves are dwindling and will run out in a little over five years, a new report has found. Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found a number of countries in the EU, including the UK, are facing critical shortages.

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Europe 'under threat' from global energy prices

Europe is "under increasing threat" from global energy prices as their fossil fuel stock dry up, experts have warned.

Dr Aled Jones, director of the institute, said:

These maps show vulnerability in many parts of the EU and they paint a picture of heavily-indebted European economies coming under increasing threat from rising global energy prices.

It is vital that those shaping Europe's future political agenda understand our existing economic fragility.

The EU is becoming ever more reliant on our resource-rich neighbours such as Russia and Norway, and this trend will only continue unless decisive action is taken.

– Dr Aled Jones

France has 'less than one year' of fossil fuels left

France will run out of its natural gas, oil and coal supplies within the next year, according to experts.

The Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University also found:

  • Italy has less than a year of gas and coal, and only one year of oil.
  • Some Eastern European members fare much better, with 73 years left of coal in Bulgaria and 34 years of coal in Poland.
  • Germany has over 250 years left of coal but less than a year of oil and only two years of gas.
  • Russia has over 50 years of oil, over 100 years of gas and over 500 years of coal, based on their current levels of internal consumption.

Read: UK fossil fuel supply 'will run out in five years'

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UK fossil fuel supply 'will run out in five years'

Britain's oil, coal and gas reserves will run dry in a little over five years, according to a report into energy resources.

Watch: Ed Davey: 'The lights are going to stay on'

There needs to be a Europe-wide push towards renewable energy, researchers said. Credit: PA

A number of European countries, including France, Italy and the UK are facing critical shortages of fossil fuels as the 2020s begin, the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University.

Using the most recent data on known reserves and current consumption, researchers found the UK has 5.2 years of oil, 4.5 years of coal and three years of gas remaining.

Professor Victor Anderson, also from the institute, said: "Coal, oil and gas resources in Europe are running down and we need alternatives.

"The UK urgently needs to be part of a Europe-wide drive to expand renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, tidal, and solar power."

Read: Move away from fossil fuels, warns UN report

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