The Oil Drum

The supply of fuel is critical to effective operations of any military unit.  This has been true both for combat situations and for the effective use of the military bases that most countries operate.  It is a topic that Yankee has previously covered, but that, in light of a couple of recent articles, is worth a revisit.  To answer one of her questions back then, as to exactly how much fuel the armed forces uses, comes a Reuters Article

The U.S. military consumed 144.8 million barrels of fuel in 2004, spending $6.7 billion, according to the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC). Last year, it consumed only 128.3 million barrels, but spent $8.8 billion, as the average price per barrel rose by almost 50 percent to more than $68. For 2006, DESC estimates the military will need 130.6 million barrels and pay more than $10 billion for it, at a price of more than $77 per barrel.