“We can lose control of oil markets (in the next six or seven years) because there will be too big a distance between supply and demand,” International Energy Agency economist Fatih Birol was reported saying Wednesday.

Politicians must take unpopular action soon to avert loss of oil-market control, Birol reportedly told Norwegian newsaper Aftenposten.

He said no decisive increase in supply was foreseen, just as world demand marches forward: The world’s 250 producing fields will generate 25 million barrels per day, or short of demand by 3.5 MMbpd, Birol is said to have warned.