Commenting on Developing countries eye nuclear power: report:

Going nuclear for the developing countries is obvious mainly because their energy demands are constantly growing, and they face quite a tough question of environment pollution (as in case of China where they hardly ever see blue sky because of smoke from factories burning coal and black oil). Also, if to think 10-20 years ahead, you never know where oil and gas prices might end, and there should be a way to keep the economy from collapse for sure. Energy is a blood of economy together with cash :) So, it's natural they go for it.

Posted by Alexandra Prokopenko on May 17, 2008 at 02:01 AM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore : 3 more CNG stations to open by end of 2008:

Chevrolet Optra Magnum CNG built in design is far better than installing your CNG on a non-CNG car. My friend did that on his ford and the boot space is as good as gone. I believe in future the tank size will be reduced to smaller ones. technology is always like this

Posted by Asia Automotive Social Network on May 15, 2008 at 03:07 PM SGT #

Commenting on Crude oil pulls back after hitting $126.40, breaking records 6 days in a row:

Yes, it's taking a long awaited correction...

Posted by Simon Tay on May 13, 2008 at 02:15 PM SGT #

Commenting on Crude oil hits $120.36 record on Nigeria, economic data:

That's right man, it's because of the "peak oil" effects that forced human to drill oil in politically unstable land like Iran and Nigeria. Let's pray that there will be no Iran War.

Posted by Simon Tay on May 06, 2008 at 12:53 PM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore hyperinflation warning signs #2 : Cooking oil price up 75%:

I don't mind high interest rates. Or at least, I don't mind if the property market crashes, since I don't speculate in the property market. :p Jokes aside, I think the important thing is to live within means. I do feel for the families who are struggling with basic necessities. Luckily for me, my struggle is not that big, and I am also not averse to "inferior" home brands. At the same time, it is really difficult for me to summon any sympathy for speculators who borrow to try to get more money.

Posted by wai on May 05, 2008 at 04:21 PM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore SIBOR rate fell to 1.25% in Apr 2008, lowest since Aug 2004:

Hi Lowem How do you see the SIBOR moving from this low? Fixed rates or SIBOR+1% for mortgage loans?

Posted by Rith on May 05, 2008 at 10:34 AM SGT #

Commenting on My first Google Adsense cheque:

Conventional energy trusts. Light or medium oil and conventional natural gas (non-CBM, non-shale).

Posted by lowem on April 29, 2008 at 12:16 PM SGT #

Commenting on My first Google Adsense cheque:

I agree with you that they are different issues. My point is that governments will not hesitate to do whatever they like to protect and promote their own interests, and this includes backing down on trade agreements. I'm not saying that this will happen, only that investors should be wary of such government intrusions. Pardon my ignorance, I was not aware of other income trusts. What other energy income trusts are there besides those in Canada, if you don't mind sharing?

Posted by TM on April 29, 2008 at 11:13 AM SGT #

Commenting on My first Google Adsense cheque:

1. These are different issues - the Saudi's and Russians are practising resource nationalization, while the Canadian government is trying to grab a piece of the (taxation) action. 2. I bought in only some time after the Oct 2006 taxation announcement (after the 20-30% blow-up as you mentioned). So while many of the original investors are down on their money, I am in positive territory. The taxation issue is over-hyped and this is why the income trusts are selling at a discount. Sure there are some politics going on, and one of the results is that new corporate tax cuts will offset the impact of the increased income trust taxation. They are a bargain and King Hubbert's colleague Kenneth Deffeyes himself recommends them. 3. Under the NAFTA agreement the Canadians are bound to supply the Americans most of their fossil fuel exports. Canadian officials have been quoted as saying they would be most happy to ship their oil to China if they were not bound to NAFTA. 4. I don't buy Canadian oil sands companies or oil sands income trusts.

Posted by lowem on April 29, 2008 at 11:08 AM SGT #

Commenting on My first Google Adsense cheque:

About the energy income trusts, investors need to be aware that we are entering a period of resource nationalism. If the Canadian government decides to curb or even halt oil exports in order to preserve oil wealth for future generations (to use the Saudi's King's words), your energy trusts share prices and dividends will crash. Can something like this happen? Of course. Back in Oct 2006, the Canadian government decided to renege on a promise not to tax the energy income trusts. Their share prices then dropped as much as 20% to 30%. The Canadians have every right to protect their national interests first. If I were Canadian, I wouldn't want my government to be selling oil for short-term profits and in the process ruin the environment with tar sands mining, and leaving nothing for future generations to transition to a post-peak world. When peak oil reality hits home, Canadians will begin to question the logic of exporting their oil sands.

Posted by TM on April 29, 2008 at 07:40 AM SGT #

Commenting on NY paper reports food rationing appearing in US:

Just to be clear, as far as I know there is no shortage of rice here in the US. There seems to be plenty on the shelves of the supermarkets. Ditto for wheat flour, etc. But the prices on those commodities are going way up. What is happening is that some small restaurant owners are buying huge quantities to stockpile in expectation that prices will move even higher. They typically buy at the "warehouse retail" stores like Sam's Club and Costco, where they can buy the huge bags that they need for their businesses. Those are the stores that are running out of inventory.

Posted by Doug on April 29, 2008 at 04:13 AM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore founder and ex-PM Lee Kuan Yew : 'Oil prices unlikely to rise further':

As a peak oil believer or researcher like me...don't wish to live in a lower standard of living.

Posted by Simon Tay on April 28, 2008 at 10:11 AM SGT #

Commenting on Westinghouse strikes deal to build first US nuclear power plants in 30 years:

Type 1 civilization? Interesting, but too far fetched I think. The two methods mentioned (fusion power and anti-matter production) in the wiki article by which we can achieve this level of sophistication are many decades away, if possible at all. Space-based solar power sounds good, but how scalable is it? And what are the energy returns?

Posted by TM on April 25, 2008 at 10:49 AM SGT #

Commenting on China's currency reserves climb 40% to $1.68 trillion:

Whichever commodities make sense to you : Energy - crude oil, natural gas, uranium Precious metals - gold, silver, platinum Base metals - copper, iron, zinc, nickel Agriculture - wheat, corn, sugar, soybeans This is by no means exhaustive, there's a lot more.

Posted by lowem on April 24, 2008 at 11:03 AM SGT #

Commenting on China's currency reserves climb 40% to $1.68 trillion:

What commodities do you suggest?

Posted by Ken on April 24, 2008 at 10:50 AM SGT #

Commenting on Crude oil hits $119.90 record on Euro breakout above 1.60:

I came across this surprising article about a poll by WorldPublicOpinion.org: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1835277320080420 Some quotes: • "Most people believe oil is running out and governments need to find another fuel… 70 percent of respondents in 15 countries and the Palestinian territories said they thought oil supplies had peaked." • "In the United States… 76 percent of respondents said oil is running out, but most believed the U.S. government mistakenly assumes there would be enough to keep oil a main source of fuel." • "The current tightening of the oil market is not temporary but will continue and the price of oil will rise substantially, most respondents said."

Posted by Doug on April 24, 2008 at 12:15 AM SGT #

Commenting on Westinghouse strikes deal to build first US nuclear power plants in 30 years:

Spent fuel reprocessing will eventually be more widespread, but political and economic problems will probably hold it back for a long time to come. Here's a fairly comprehensive report on it, from a US perspective: http://www.fissilematerials.org/ipfm/site_down/ipfmresearchreport03.pdf

Posted by Doug on April 19, 2008 at 12:26 AM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore : Tuas Power may build $2 billion coal-fired plant:

I wish it were. But the original date of publication was Thu 27 Mar 2008.

Posted by lowem on April 06, 2008 at 06:33 PM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore : Tuas Power may build $2 billion coal-fired plant:

an april fool joke ???

Posted by anon on April 06, 2008 at 02:47 PM SGT #

Commenting on Singapore will not impose price controls on essential food items:

The problem "now" is that the Singapore government believes that economic growth, the strength of our economy and the Singapore dollar will solve our ecological and sustainability problems. Until we (and the world) address the following issues: 1.Overpopulation, 2.Relocalization of energy and food, and 3.UNeconomic growth, a dieoff is inevitable. The time to act on these three issues is "now".

Posted by dieoff.org on April 04, 2008 at 05:05 PM SGT #