The Bottom Line - How the oil industry works

How the oil industry works

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What does it take to drill oil out of the ground and then refine it into petrol, jet fuel or other petrochemical products? The world currently uses about a hundred million barrels of oil a day. However, the daily flow has been affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the global supply normally passes through the waterway in tanker ships, but it's been blocked since the end of February 2026. How has the industry adapted?

Guests:
Nick Bone, Fuels Industry UK
Luke Johnson, Director of OPC
Edward Hayden-Briffet from Onyx Capital

Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland
Sound: Dave O'Neill & James Piper
Production Coordinator: Katie Morrisson
Editor: Sam Bonham

Published on Thursday, 11th June 2026.

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