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82 comments on Gas Emergency Looms

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Dave Cohen on March 14, 2006 - 1:58am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top
Natural gas problems in the UK? I'm caught completely by surprise!

I do, however, appreciate quotes like "UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks had the audacity to state that the country was 'awash with gas' ".

Its been some years now that I believed any government official (whatever country that was) telling me something about what's going on. But I've got to say, I always thought the UK was a bit more honest than the others, especially the US....

Another false assumption put to bed....

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MUDLOGGER on March 14, 2006 - 9:37am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
No, this should not really surprise anyone.
Our esteemed government has been very busy with great matters such as Fox hunt bans, Smoking bans, rogering the house of lords (the bit that works), stuffing
habeus corpus, ID cards, how many vegetables we have each day, 24 hour pubs and casinos in impoverished areas.

Strategic energy issues are simply not important and can be dealt with by the market. I do not think that there is one scientist or engineer in the whole house of parliament.

You see everybody knows that the science guys will invent something nice like fusion or Sooty's magic dust

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haggisbasher on March 14, 2006 - 11:26am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
In the interests of fairness I feel I should point out that John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, studied physics (atomic, nuclear and theoretical) at Oxford.  
The difference this has made to his stance on energy issues is refreshing when compared to the majority of political animals who inhabit the house of commons.

Links to his website have already been posted in this thread.  In addition, he has raised an urgent question with regard to the gas situation which is due to be answered this afternoon in parliament by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry).  Several hundred more like minded MP's and we might have a chance for some meaningful mitigation strategies.

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Nick Rouse on March 14, 2006 - 5:33pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
John Hemming has indeed taken a strong line on peak oil. It is a great pity that he is not Liberal Democrat spokesman on energy instead of the economist Vince Cable who recently wrote an article in the Guardian dismissing peak oil with the usual economist's line, the market will provide - praise be to Adam Smith.
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haggisbasher on March 14, 2006 - 6:34pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Ah yes, Vince Cable.  Not just any economist, but formerly chief economist for Shell.  That gives me great confidence in his judgement with regard to oil reserves !  To quote his comment in the Guardian.

" He (Vince Cable) says high oil prices will lead to increased production and exploration, thereby improving supply, and to falling demand, as consuming economies slow in the face of higher energy costs."

Declines to answer e-mails questioning his basis for this belief, but that is a common problem with all the respective party energy spokesmen.  I suspect they know they are in a hole but just do not wish to admit it.

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MUDLOGGER on March 15, 2006 - 9:27am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Sir, I stand corrected.

1/700 , at least its a start.

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Essex Land Rover Man on March 15, 2006 - 10:50am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I wish you would stop praising our esteemed government.

I wonder how much heat you can get from burning politicians?
It would be nice to chuck a politician on to a wood fire to keep warm when the natural gas shortages bite. It is certainly the most useful thing you can do with a poltician. Or has anyone else got a better idea to make use of a politician?

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jkissing on March 15, 2006 - 1:31pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Pretty tough to be a politician. To be elected, he has to say what people want to hear. People don't want to hear there is a coming crisis, energy  or any other, particularly if any change in lifestyle and/or more taxes is the obvious solution. UK has no option except wind and nuclear to offset hydrocarbon shortages, but the public still is not clamoring for either. They will only demand alternative solutions until well into the crisis...
Pretty much the same on this side of the pond.
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MUDLOGGER on March 15, 2006 - 5:34pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
No dont burn them, just let them talk. All that hot air could be put to use
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tochigi on March 14, 2006 - 11:01am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
excellent post Chris!
speaking of dishonest/moronic politicians, NZ's energy minister today told the country "no rolling blackouts this [southern hemisphere] winter, lads" despite the hydro lakes being the lowest since our last (major) power crisis in 1992. and no rain in sight. and Maui gas field running down fast. etc. etc. his justification for this pronouncement? none. well, one actually. he's God. so he know's we'll be right mate! hope someone told the other God, TB, that he's got competition downunder!
Energy Minister rules out winter power cuts
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Gets IT on March 14, 2006 - 5:21pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
I think this time it wasn't a lie.  The guy just didn't know what's been going on in his own department.  Seems like there's been a wash of that lately in the UK.  (Education if I'm not mistaken to name another one.)
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82 comments on Gas Emergency Looms

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