The Kingdom's domestic oil consumption decreased by about 200,000 barrels per day in January 2017, or nine percent, compared to January 2016. In January, 2016, it consumed 2.15 million barrels per day compared to 1.95 million barrels earlier this year. This equals the Kingdom's consumption in January, 2013. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Khattaf, Director, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Research Center for Refining and Petrochemicals, told Al-Riyadh Arabic paper, sister publication of Riyadh Daily, that this was the first time the Kingdom's oil consumption had dipped below two million barrels a day since March, 2013. "This is a great achievement in our efforts to rationalize energy consumption in the Kingdom which is seeking to rein in the significant rise in domestic oil consumption." He added that in January, the Kingdom's consumption was even lesser than some countries, such as Germany, Brazil and Korea, whose consumption exceeded 2.2 million barrels per day each by 2017. He pointed out that available data indicated that the Kingdom's consumption of diesel fuel had decreased between January, 2016 and January, 2017 by about 130,000 barrels per day, the lowest since January, 2011. Gasoline consumption during the same period decreased by about 50,000 barrels per day. This means that domestic gasoline consumption was on the slide despite the increase in population. In comparison, in January, 2017 the Kingdom's consumption of gasoline and diesel reached about 1.1 million barrels per day as against 1.3 million barrels per day in January, 2016, recording a decrease of 15.4 percent. Gulf countries, such as Qatar and Kuwait, have recorded a significant increase in oil consumption. Even Iraq is showing signs of increased oil consumption, using about 0.75 million barrels per day last January when in January 2010, its consumption had not exceeded half a million barrels. Dr. Al-Khattaf said the Kingdom's plans to utilize alternative energy to generate electricity will contribute to increased quantities being available for exports. Expanded public transportation facilities, such as train services, would also help in reducing gasoline and diesel consumption, besides cutting carbon emissions.
