<Thin Film Solar Power - Cheaper than Coal ?TOD: Australia/New ZealandAlan Evans - Apostle Of Our Petroleum Past>

7 comments on Record oil price sparks call for petrol rationing

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

Brisvegas on January 11, 2008 - 8:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I suspect Bruce wasn't quoted in full in the article. He has clarified his position on the ASPO website:

Short-term and long-term oil shortages are quite likely in the near future. We should prepare in case they do come. When there is a water shortage, we do not let the market allocate this vital resource. We have restrictions, regulations and community campaigns to reduce consumption. A smart-card sliding-scale, tradeable fuel allocation system should be designed, in case we need it in future.

As for Shane Oliver, I'm not sure what he is a 'Doctor' of, but it clearly isn't one of the sciences.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Big Gav on January 11, 2008 - 8:46pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

That sounds a lot more reasonable.

Shane Oliver is an economist - they see things a certain way - he is correct that high fuel prices encourage the market to find alternatives (biofuels aren't a great example though). If you go overboard with rationing (or even worse, price controls) you ruin the mechanism that will (eventually) get us out of the current mess.

Water is a little different - by and large there aren't any substitutes (except sea water) - all you can try and do is increase efficiency and expand supply.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.