Energy as a factor in Soviet foreign policy

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7314055

Russell, J

Not much information is disseminated concerning Soviet energy capability, but an attempt is made to provide an up-to-date review about the Soviet and East European energy situation. Does the Soviet Union have an energy problem. Is it, or are its Comecon allies, also affected by the energy crisis affecting almost all other countries, and to what extent. Does the Soviet Union have large reserves of energy, and if it does, can it develop these by itself or will it require western help. Could the Soviet Union ever become a major exporter of energy to the rest of the world or will it, too, ultimately become a substantial importer of middle eastern oil, like so many of its ideological opponents. If the Soviet Union does have energy problems, either now or in the future, are they such as to encourage the Soviet leadership to attempt to influence the course of world events in one direction or another. What could be the constraints upon the Soviet Union in such an event, and what course of action might the rest of the world contemplate by way of a response. These are some of the questions which will be looked at in this book. It will not be possible to give exact answers to any of them in view of the essentially ''Western'' criteria which must, of necessity, be employed in their analysis (in the absence of any clear-cut official Soviet commentary on the subject). The guidelines for the 1976--1980 five-year plan were published as the book was going to print. Oil production is targeted at 620 to 640 million tons, coal at 800 million tons, and gas at 400 to 430 billion m/sup 3/. Energy conservation will likely be emphasized, but the overall rate of energy consumption is unlikely to fall below the annual 5 percent rate. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7314055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
COMECON
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FORECASTING
FOREIGN POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLANNING
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
USSR