Oil – an important natural resource Objectives: To introduce students to case study on Saudi Arabia. This will demonstrate that the discovery of oil in a country can produce both positive and negative results.

Oil – an important natural resource Is oil an example of a renewable or non- renewable natural resource? Why?

Oil – an important natural resource Oil is non-renewable. Once oil reserves have been exploited, they cannot be replenished.

At the end of this section, you will be able to answer the following: Why is oil considered a desirable source of fuel? Uses? Can you name some of the countries with oil reserves? Does Ireland have oil/gas reserves? Why must the remaining oil reserves be conserved?

Saudi Arabia: a case study. Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East – a politically volatile region. The capital city is Riyadh. The country is an absolute monarchy – the King has total control. Saudi Arabia is a conservative country. Women’s lives are circumscribed. Saudi Arabia is a member of OPEC – the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries. Other member states include Nigeria and Mexico.

Saudi Arabia: a case study The discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia has impacted on the country in both positive and negative ways.

Saudi Arabia – a case study

Positive The discovery of oil has brought about great social change and economic benefits. Before it was found, the country was not well known, contained sprawling deserts and was populated by nomadic Arab tribes. The discovery of oil has brought great wealth. Some of this has been invested in services for its citizens. Saudi Arabia is now the greatest producer of crude oil. 10% of oil used around the world comes from this country. The discovery of oil has also led to internal human migration as people leave the desert regions to seek work in the oil industry.

Negative Saudi Arabia is located in a region of great political instability. Some of the country’s wealth has been invested in the purchase of weapons. Great social and economic change has not manifested itself in the improvement of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record or the extension of greater rights to women. Human rights abuses are still common. Women’s lives are still restricted.

Many of Saudi Arabia’s weapons have been supplied by EU States