Oil to run out

石油耗尽

In August 2009, Fatih Birol, chief economist of the International Energy Agency, said that oil is running out faster than expected and that the world will likely feel the tightness in supply in the next five years.

2009年8月，国际能源署首席经济学家法蒂赫•比罗尔表示，全球石油枯竭速度已超出预期，未来5年全球可能面临石油供应紧缩的局面。

Scientists have found substitutes for oil as fuel. Coal, natural gas, solar power, nuclear power and even water can replace oil as sources of energy. Flammable ice reserves alone can support humans for the next 1,000 years.

科学家已经找到了石油的替代品，包括煤、天然气、太阳能、核能甚至是水。仅海底“可燃冰”就够人类使用1000年。

But if oil runs out, the petrochemical industry will suffer the most. More than 5,000 products are made with oil, and the industry exerts a vast and profound influence on people’s lives. If it is affected by oil, the impacts will be relayed to society as well.

但受石油枯竭影响最大的是石化行业。现存以石油为原料的产品超过5000种，石化行业对人类生活具有广大且深远的影响。一旦该行业受到石油的影响，势必波及社会生活的方方面面。