Tight Oil Supplies: Simmons

peakoil.com -> simmonsco-intl.com (pdf) :

A comprehensive PDF by Matthew Simmons

Questions We Should Have Asked:
Could end to sustainable energy supply growth be nearing?
How soon could 'peak oil and gas' arrive?
How long would peak stay at a plateau?
How fast could supply then decline?
Is peak oil more likely than peak natural gas?

World Should Assume We Are At Peak For Oil AND Gas
Optimists have no meaningful facts to bolster enthusiasm
Peaking of usable oil and gas is either
- Approaching front door
- Knocking at the world's door
- Now inside the house
Denial has created an awful global crisis
Denying peaking of modern energy creates the ultimate crisis

(2006-05-30 11:03:48 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Blackouts plague South Asia nations as mercury boils

channelnewsasia.com :

As south Asia enjoys unprecedented economic growth, soaring summer temperatures have highlighted a chronic shortage of electricity that is crippling enterprise and leaving millions to suffer without any hope of respite. From India, the world's second fastest growing major economy after China, to impoverished Bangladesh, governments are plagued by the problem of growing demand for power combined with inadequate supply.

Earlier this month almost half of Bangladesh was plunged into darkness for several hours as the national electricity grid tripped shutting down most of the country's power generation units. The country's average shortfall is 700-800 megawatts daily rising on occasions to up to 1,800 megawatts, nearly half of output.

Experts say South Asian nations are failing to add the capacity needed to keep up with economic growth, pointing out that China adds more than 28,000 megawatts of capacity on average annually compared to only 4,500 megawatts in India.

India has been hailed for its rapid development but critics say it has no viable strategy to tackle its power problems. In parts of the Indian capital Delhi, residents are left to swelter for up to ten hours at a stretch. Temperatures hit the mid-40s Celsius (111 degrees Farenheit) during May and June. In some rural areas there is electricity for only two hours a day or none at all. Some 47 power plants are behind schedule.

Pakistan enjoyed a power surplus until last year but this year it is faced with a daily shortfall of 415 megawatts expected to rise to 1,457 megawatts next year. Although there are plans to install as many as 45 hydro and thermal power projects with a capacity of about 12,000 mw, they are expected to take years to become operational.

Experts say that without added capacity there are no quick fixes. Instead, they urge governments and private citizens to do everything they can to save power from changing working hours to avoid the hottest part of the day and closing shops and businesses by 5:00 pm.

(2006-05-30 07:11:29 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Flat-panel TVs face competition from conventional box sets

channelnewsasia.com :

Flat-panel televisions now cost 40 percent less in Singapore than a year ago, and industry watchers are predicting a further 30 percent drop by year's end, led by LCD TVs. LCD TV sales have more than doubled in the first four months of this year to S$97 million compared to a year ago, while plasma TV sales came to S$53 million.

Still, makers of flat panel TVs are facing an unlikely competitor - the conventional box set. Price remains a stickler. A 29-inch tube TV runs at about S$800, while a similar flat panel TV set will set you back at least three times more. Analysts say the price difference is keeping consumers from going all out for flat panels. And observers predict a shake-out, with LCDs possibly pushing plasmas into low volume, high-end markets.

Malaysia Airlines reports 1Q2006 net loss of US$88.34m

channelnewsasia.com :

Malaysia Airlines posted a first-quarter net loss of 321.12 million ringgit (US$88.34 million), adding to the red ink which has forced it to embark on a major turn around plan. The beleaguered airline chalked up substantial losses of some 1.0 billion ringgit for the whole of the last financial year. The first quarter net loss, against a profit of 111.27 million ringgit a year ago, was mainly due to a 35 percent jump in fuel costs.

The national carrier is attempting to restructure its operations and in a crisis plan announced in March said it will surrender all but 19 major domestic routes to budget carrier AirAsia and cut out unprofitable international routes. Last week, it announced it will spend up to 850 million ringgit to lay off some 3,000 to 5,000 employees in a voluntary separation scheme.