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Abstract China¡¦s two decades of rapid economic growth have fueled a demand for energy that has outstripped domestic sources of supply. China became a net oil importer in 1993, and the country¡¦s dependence on energy imports is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years. It is projected that China will need to import some 60 percent of its oil and at least 30 percent of its natural gas by 2020. This scissors-like gap between domestic supply and demand has forced the Chinese government to abandon its traditional goal of energy self-sufficiency and look abroad for energy resources. After the implementation of open and reform policy, China not only searched for new source of energy locally, but also searched for foreign source of energy. China intended to assure the safety of energy by the integration of ¡§two resources, two markets¡¨. Otherwise, from the angle of safety strategy of energy, China¡¦s strategy for energy security is not safe enough for the diffculty of implementation of the policy, the incomplete construction of strategic petroleum reserve, and the lack of infrastructure of energy.

Energy security is one of the three pillars of energy policy next to environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. Despite its importance for policy making, there is no agreement about the definition of energy security and the metrics that could be used to measure the efficiency of different policies. As a result of this, it may be that both a political intervention in one direction and an intervention in the opposite direction could be justified on grounds of energy security. In our thesis we review the multitude of definitions of energy security. They can be characterized according to the sources of risk, the scope of the impacts, and the severity filters in the form of the speed, size, sustention, spread, singularity and sureness of impacts. Using a stylized case study for three European countries, we illustrate how the selection of conceptual boundaries along these dimensions determines the outcome. In order to reduce the overlap between security of supply and other policy objectives we propose the definition of energy security as the continuity of energy supplies relative to demand. The choice of the conceptual boundaries along the other dimensions remains a subjective decision that has to be taken by policy makers in a dialogue with society. Based on the definition of energy security as the continuity of supplies relative to demand, we examine how accurately different modelling approaches and metrics capture this concept. We find most of the wide-spread indicators, such as import shares, concentration measures and composite indicators based on expert elicitation are very rough heuristics that can easily be shown to produce inaccurate results. Simple modelling approaches such as analysis based on portfolio theory, or electricity system simulations offer some improvement, but still suffer from structural shortcomings and limitations in the way they model interdependencies. In this thesis we suggest a modelling approach which allows us to capture the interdependencies between natural, technical and human risk sources and quantify their combined impact on the continuity of energy supplies within a fixed infrastructure system. We use a case study of Italy to compare the outputs of our model with alternative metrics and simplified modelling approaches. Finally, we investigate the degree and the cost at which regulatory interventions in the form of so-called capacity mechanisms may increase the continuity of supplies in the electricity market. In contrast to previous research we find that the choice of a capacity mechanism may both be influenced by the extent to which it should be robust towards different regulatory errors as well as by the question whether it is evaluated from the perspective of consumer cost or from a welfare perspective.

Japan is the third energy consumption country in the world (next to the United States, and China), and the lowest to its energy self-sufficiency among advanced countries. Japan is aware of its dependence on the unstable Middle East for the energy security. Therefore, to ensure the Japanese having reliable supply of energy, become a vital issue not only to its economic development but also its national security. Japanese government attempted to change the condition of their vulnerability in regard to energy security and dependence on foreign energy. Japanese energy diplomacy primarily hopes to guarantee their energy security. Japan¡¦s energy security relied on other countries since postwar was an indisputable fact. Japan is unable to control energy security which is not surprising. However, Japan is the second largest economy country in the world, therefore, Japan's energy security strategy and concrete achievement, immediately impacts on Japan's politics and economic performance. Consequently, it brings a significant influence on the international politics and economics development. After postwar, Japan's energy security relied on the protective umbrella that U.S. provided. Two main constructions are: the maintenance of U.S.-Japan security alliance and the U.S. Pacific fleet control the sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The world energy domain changed rapidly since the cold war was ended. The Soviet Union contains rich reserved energy and opens to the capitalism market. This is a breakthrough opportunity for Japan especially when it is in an energy security dilemma. In addition, Chinese economic has been rising in recent years, the initiation energy is in demanding, that also impacts greatly on the energy market among Asian regions. As for Japan, its deficiency in energy resources becomes a numerous threat. Therefore, Japan's energy security problem not only affects the Asian regions, but also breaks that existing international power balance.

In an energy system, diversity of supply—that is, reliance on a variety of mutually disparate energy suppliers and their energy supplies—is seen by many researchers and policymakers as an important component of energy security. This thesis describes a novel and generic method for examining the relationship between energy security (as represented by an energy-security index derived from a set of energy security indicators) and diversity (as defined by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index) of an energy system, its entities, and flows. While diversity is often presented by policy makers as being essential to maintaining or improving the energy security of an energy system, the thesis employs the equations associated with the two indices to show that a diverse supply need not be secure and a secure supply need not be diverse. Several examples of the relationship and the events that can affect it are also provided. / N/A

This thesis addresses the gap in the literature of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its distinct relations with the European Union by identifying the obstacles preventing the development of GCC–EU interregionalism, in two case studies: energy security and economic cooperation in the Mediterranean. By bringing an empirical application of interregionalism to the study of GCC–EU relations, the thesis draws an original comparison that is based on a Hettne and Söderbaum typology of regionness (2000) to determine the GCC’s and the EU’s types, levels of actorness and the subsequent type of interregionalism resulting from the interaction between their kinds. The theoretical construct of the thesis underlines interregionalism as a tool for consolidating the organisations’ identities and actorness and increasing their capacities at exerting influence within the changing dynamics in the regional and global theatres. In addition, this thesis sheds light on the obstacles that impede the development of interregional cooperation and the mechanism to overcome them. As such, the thesis considers the dynamics instigating the renewed interest in deepening GCC–EU interregional relations; outlines the tools available at the GCC and the EU, and highlights the implications of the Arab Spring and GCC–Asia ties on GCC–EU relations. By avoiding benchmarking the EU as a model, the thesis purports that cooperation in energy security is ongoing and is opening avenues for promising partnerships in renewables, energy sustainability and efficiency. On the other hand, the divergence in the organisations’ levels of actorness, economic strategies and the unwillingness to assess policies are major hindrances against a successful partnership in the Mediterranean. Asymmetries in actorness, bilateralism, the American influence and the growing GCC–Asia ties do impact the development of the relations; albeit, they do not impede the multilateral framework from producing unintended outcomes in other areas of the relations.

The GB electricity system is in a state of change, both physically and operationally. The future of the electricity system needs to be low carbon and secure. Current system structures revolve around large-scale centralised generation to deliver this security. This thesis argues that with a broad definition of energy security, which reflects the future needs of the electricity system, a decentralised approach would be more beneficial to deliver these needs. This thesis identifies the governance processes that make up current energy security and evaluates how these might change in a system of decentralised electricity. The research consists of 31 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders of the electricity system from the government, regulatory, market and civil society based actor groups. In addition to this, the research utilised a secondary analysis of consultation responses and Government publications. This thesis uses multi-layer perspective theory to interpret the transition from a centralised to decentralised electricity system. In addition to the multi-layer perspective, an advancement of the governance perspective was also required. This develops the understanding of the changes to the actor relationships rules and the incentives of a decentralised electricity system. This research developed for key findings. Firstly, a decentralised electricity future would introduce a larger number of small investors, who in a centralised system would not exist. The second key point is, the UK Government is responsible for security of supply and their actions are focused on centralised electricity technologies. The third point is that energy security (in its boarder definition) is the responsibility of a network of actors working together. The fourth point is that current energy security is incorrectly dominated by supply meeting demand. The outcome of the research is that a decentralised electricity system would be beneficial to the broader concept of energy security which is used in this thesis.

Security of supply of petroleum is a serious challenge in Nigeria that seems to lack any known legal remedy. It is a paradox that Nigeria is experiencing inadequate supply of petroleum resources for domestic consumption despite the abundance of oil and gas reserves in the country. Past efforts in the search for solutions through which to address this challenge have largely been political, quick fixes and episodic in nature. This research aims to address this challenge by looking for a possible solution towards the direction of the law-Petroleum Act 1969, which fundamentally regulates the industry. This is because the Act has failed to significantly contribute to the availability, reliability, affordability and sustainability of petroleum operation in Nigeria, the factors of which Elkind collectively identifies as elements of ‘energy security'.The research will undertake a critical appraisal of the 1969 Act and this is with a view to evaluating why it has failed to make any significant contribution to the security of supply of petroleum for domestic purposes. In conducting this analysis, the elements of the Petroleum Acts of Brazil, Norway and the UK will be examined. The objective of this approach is to draw specific lessons which will enrich the recommendations to be made towards the reform of the 1969 Act. The research will, in addition, analyse the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) 2012, to see if there are further improvements to or significant departures from the current provisions of the Act regarding the security of supply of petroleum resources. My argument is that the Act has not sufficiently contributed to security of supply and the PIB would make only minimal improvements. Therefore, further radical reform, which needs to build upon the lessons from other jurisdictions considered in this research, is required.

China has been undertaking a number of transactions with various countries referred to as “loan-for-oil” deals since 2009. In these deals, China extends a loan to a certain oil exporting country and expects loan repayments in the form of oil shipments at market prices. The aim of this thesis is to identify China’s motivations behind loan-for-oil deals. This paper analyzes each of two hypotheses separately. The first hypothesis is that “If China enters into loan-for-oil deals, then it is aiming to build friendships with oil-resource rich countries to advance its objective of energy security”. The second hypothesis is that “If China enters into loan-for-oil deals, then it is looking to diversify its financial investments from US treasury bills and views these deals as credible alternative investments”. The paper rejects both the hypotheses based on the information discussed in the thesis: the loan-for-oil deals do not enhance China’s oil linked energy security, nor are they a viable diversification from investments in U.S. treasury bills. However, by offering subsidized loans with relaxed conditions to oil exporting countries post the 2008 financial crisis, China is using these deals as an apparatus to develop friendships with oil exporting nations, thereby highlighting its interest in oil as a commodity. It can be speculated that the friendships formed as a result of these deals may contribute towards China's oil linked energy security goals in the future, however proving this conjecture is outside the scope of this thesis. / text

This thesis considers India's pursuit of energy security. Defining energy security within traditional parameters of supply, delivery, diversification of fuels and suppliers, and affordable prices; the work considers India's energy security condition by surveying the core energy sectors including coal, oil and gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear power and renewables. India's pursuit of energy security is then disaggregated into domestic and international arenas and both are analysed in turn. Considerable attention is paid to the international dimension where India's quest to acquire energy resources is contextualised within bilateral relations with specific countries. What the proceeding analysis makes clear is that the international arena offers considerable opportunities, but also constraints on, the realisation of greater energy security. Chapter one analyses global trends in the main energy sectors of coal, oil, natural gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear power and renewables. Historically, the fortunes of the global energy sectors have mirrored trends in the global economy. Since 2008, most of the world's major industrialised economies have experienced negative or greatly reduced levels of growth. This is primarily due to the proliferation of vast quantities of debt that have capsized several financial institutions and are adversely affecting the liquidity and solvency of many developed governments. The global energy sectors have also been deeply affected by the economic downturn with access to funds for the development of new infrastructure squeezed. The recent poor economic growth of these countries has further accentuated the downward trend they have experienced in energy consumption. Nevertheless, many parts of the developing world, including India, have only been marginally affected by the global economic downturn and continue to develop rapidly. Consequentially most of the growth in demand for energy is coming from developing countries, particularly India. Although there are slight variations depending on sector, this dual trend of stagnation in the developed world and rapid growth in the developing is one ofthe recurring themes in the global energy markets. It is within this context that the second chapter considers India's energy security condition. Detailed analysis of the coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric and renewable sectors demonstrate succinctly that India is experiencing considerable growing pains. While several challenges are unique to each sector the chapter also identifies several systemic problems, including insufficient supply, rampant demand, a tendency to import.