Awakening
The update this time is revealing a host of developments that seem to bode for new times and ways and co-operations.
At several places in the world fundamental research for the new fuels of the future seem to bring the acknowledgement that bio-fuels will be a useful addition to but will not replace hydrocarbons even in a substantial way. The reason is simple: we only have one planet and to replace even current amounts of fuels would need about three, and the humans and animals on it would need to live from anything but what we live from now. If developments continue, we will see a rising competition between food-crops and fuel-crops with many unfortunate side-effects on the food-chain and the environment. This even apart from the fact, that the net-energy-production of many fuel-crops is very limited.
But there seem to be hope from ventures that utilise waste to make fuel and especially one that makes hydrocarbons from algae. More about this in this issue.
Also very interesting to see is the change in geo-political energy traffic and new partnerships. Has it been for many
decades that the traffic went from “West” to “East”, this seems to have changed now in a very
substantial way and ever more movement from “East” can be seen to enter the energy-arena of the
“West” or what used to be the sphere of influence of the “West”.
The developments here have a very different note and tone and are built mostly on broader relationships with
seemingly more respect for sovereignty. The speed with which this is taking place indicates we are moving fast
towards a very different and much more multi-polar world. These developments have just started and we can look
forward to more of this and the consequences this will have on the energy- and geopolitical world.
Another influence that seems to rise to the surface is that ever more countries, especially poorer countries with
essential resources, are realising that things need to change and that the benefits for the country and the people
from the resources need to improve, and also need to become more transparent.
This is something of great value and can only be encouraged.
The suffering that has ensued from the “ripping” of resources is immeasurable and it is a very positive
development that ever more countries and organisations start looking in a serious way at bribes, contracts,
royalty-schemes and the financial juggling around projects that has taken place and still is taking place. And
we can only hope that this search for more transparency will extend ever further and will also regard the actual
underlying need for projects and their size and on the basis of what figures, statistics, suggestions or
consultancies these have been set up.
Let us hope important lessons are learned from the situation of Indonesia: huge projects for export, but little left
to export. Some kind of miscalculation took place here.
The awakening towards a new world situation and -order is not a political movement; it is a sign of the new times.
Stay open!
Alexander
Comments are always welcome at Alexander@gas-oil-power.com
