»

[Ollie]

I was listening to BBC2 coverage from Aberdeen and there was a debate on what would happen to the world when the demand for oil outstrips supply. Ok so i dont know exact figures but the general impression from experts is that the glass is half empty in terms of reserves. Only time will tell whethar or not it will affect any of us.

Just wondering if anyone on here has any thoughts as to exactly how much Western Society relies on Oil for day to day living. If oil does have a major importance and if it is indeed running out then surely an alternative would have to be sought? If not the worlds gonna be a much bigger place.

Some more food for thought - As far as the ozone layer is concerned (how much this is related to oil im not sure) dangerous chemicals are known to be fucking that up as well. It just makes u wonder whats this place gonna be like when were all gone.

[beeker]

Whats the deal on research into alternative energy... will those avenue's not become more dominant in the next 50 or so years. So, by the time Oil has begun to fade out will these alternatives replace Oil?

I just dinna ken. worrying for any companies who depend on oil tho!..

well, if you look at the way Norway has managed its oil resources, by setting up a 'Future Generations Fund' and putting some of the revenues generated into it each year, it now has a fund of £100 billion, which generates more in interest each year than they make in oil revenue!

The Norwegians are now concentrating on development of renewable energy sources to prepare for when the oil supplies run out.

The oil money over here has been used to fund Thatcher's dole queues, fill black holes in the budget, and finance the Iraq war.

Not one penny has been set aside in a fund like that of Norway, despite Labour saying they would set one up in the 70s.

Our renewable technologies are also not getting the support they deserve, and there is talk of building new nuclear power stations instead, thus condemning us to yet more toxic waste which there is no real disposal method for.

[Lester Burnham]

This won't happen in Aberdeen for a very long time... we have approx 50 years left in the North Sea Oil industry... after which the companies have their eyes on Russia and South America (are currently beginning to phase into both) and due to practicalities.... bases for business will remain in the UK even if the sites are not.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

However, my an energy consumption point of view... the UK should really begin to look at renewable energy sources very very seriously... and nuclear - but then the public hate it despite the output being massive compared to the resources consumed. The problem being that the small amount of waste produced is the most foul life endangering waste on the planet.

[Val]

Originally Posted by tv tanned

well, if you look at the way Norway has managed its oil resources, by setting up a 'Future Generations Fund' and putting some of the revenues generated into it each year, it now has a fund of £100 billion, which generates more in interest each year than they make in oil revenue!

The Norwegians are now concentrating on development of renewable energy sources to prepare for when the oil supplies run out.

The oil money over here has been used to fund Thatcher's dole queues, fill black holes in the budget, and finance the Iraq war.

Not one penny has been set aside in a fund like that of Norway, despite Labour saying they would set one up in the 70s.

Our renewable technologies are also not getting the support they deserve, and there is talk of building new nuclear power stations instead, thus condemning us to yet more toxic waste which there is no real disposal method for.

SNP by any chance?

[Lester Burnham]

Originally Posted by Val

SNP by any chance?

100% SNP boy....

Don't start him up

Originally Posted by Val

SNP by any chance?

and that matters because?

[Paulscoconutass]

My dad's been in the oil for 30 years now and when he started he was told there would be 10 years left. New technology means they can easily recover deeper - previously unreachable - oil reserves AND find bran new ones.

As for an alternative, new things like the water powered car and so on crop up now and again, but then disappear because oil companies (naturally) don't want them to surface. I hope the oil industry continues because it's probably the only reason that Aberdeen has so much money, international attention and a rich culture.

Hydrogen cell technology is the way forward.

SiGen at Clinterty have developed a hydrogen cell car, but because there is no real funding available they are not able to develop it massively.

[Val]

Originally Posted by tv tanned

and that matters because?

I'm not criticizing your political persuasion, it's just the SNP have a certain obsession with Norway and St. Bernard's dogs.