ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996             TAG: 9601180062
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-5  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON

U.S. USE OF OIL DIPS BELOW 40% OF WORLD'S SHARE

Although oil is still the largest single energy source in the United States, its share has dropped below 40 percent for the first time in decades, the American Petroleum Institute says.

API said Wednesday oil accounted for 39.7 percent of the total energy generated by all sources last year. While the amount of energy consumed from all sources increased from 1994, ``the greatest increases were in natural gas and nuclear power,'' said Edward Murphy, director of statistics.

Crude oil imports increased 3.2 percent, for about half of U.S. demand. Total petroleum imports - crude oil and refined products - actually declined 1.3 percent because of an 18 percent drop in refined products, API said.

Domestic crude oil production dropped 2.2 percent in 1995 to the lowest level in 41 years.

The API also said demand for gasoline rose 2.5 percent last year. Heating oil and diesel fuel deliveries were up 2.4 percent.

- Associated Press

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