[en] Contrary to past forecasts, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hannes Androsch anticipates a world energy shortage from the mid-1980s. In addition to rising world consumption, there is the prospect of the Eastern COMECON Block becoming a competing consumer on the world market, its own resources being no longer adequate to meet its requirements. In the light of such possible developments the author considers the prospects for Austria. With the depletion of some of its resources and the growing dependence upon foreign sources of energy supply, the potential neighbouring suppliers, besides being few, present constraints of a technical, financial or even resource nature which greatly reduce their significance. These factors will, no doubt, dictate the planning and expansion programmes of the country. (P.F.K.)