Higher petrol taxes to deter people buying as much, strict petrol rationing and Adelaide production of small fuel-frugal cars were urged yesterday by an Australian group concerned with "peak oil".
That is when world oil production peaks. After that, shortages will occur.
Visiting Adelaide, Chris Skrebowski, a trustee of the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre and editor of the Energy Institute's Petroleum Review in Britain, said "peak oil" was real and imminent.
"Peak oil is when flows can't meet the required demand," he said. "This will cause an economic tsunami." Mr Skrebowski, addressing a Committee for Economic Development of Australia gathering, said that of the world's 18 largest oil fields, 12 were in production decline.
Few large discoveries were being made, with the prediction of even less new oil in coming years.
"Oil supply will peak in 2010-11 at around 92 to 94 million barrels a day," he said. "We have just 1500 days to peak. Collectively, we are still in denial."
Bruce Robinson, convener of the Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil, said petrol rationing would help make supplies last as long as possible.
Biofuels would mitigate the oil shortage problem but were not the main solution. Hydrogen fuel-cell cars also were not the answer.
"South Australia could lead the way," he said. "There's a golden opportunity for SA's car industry to make an AusCar, a modern version of the 'people's car' Volkswagen.
"Not something with a 3.8-litre V6 engine but something small, lightweight and fuel-efficient."
CARSguide liftout: New fuels up to pace
No comments:
Post a Comment