The line graph illustrates the production levels of three main types of fuel—petroleum, coal, and natural gas—in the UK from 1981 to 2000. Overall, petroleum consistently had the highest production levels, while coal production declined and natural gas production increased significantly over the period.
In 1981, petroleum production started at approximately 100 million tonnes and quickly rose to about 125 million tonnes by 1986. Although there was a slight dip around 1990, production levels recovered and reached their peak of around 130 million tonnes by 2000, maintaining its dominance throughout the period.
Coal production, on the other hand, began at about 80 million tonnes in 1981 but saw a steep decline to approximately 40 million tonnes by 1984. Although there was a brief increase to around 60 million tonnes by 1986, the downward trend continued, and coal production fell to about 40 million tonnes by the end of the period.
Natural gas started at a much lower production level of around 40 million tonnes in 1981 but steadily increased over the years. By 1990, natural gas production had overtaken coal and continued to rise, reaching approximately 120 million tonnes by 2000.
In summary, while petroleum remained the dominant fuel in the UK from 1981 to 2000, natural gas production grew substantially, and coal production experienced a significant decline.