Is Peak Oil different globally?

Rincewind · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:36 pm Post subject:

Oil depletion is only just starting to get press here in NZ, which is surprising given that our largest gas field Maui is now in terminal decline (expected to be shut in 2009). Maui gas has set energy prices in this country since the early 1980s and fed a huge increase in energy consumption over that period. With its decline we are looking at much higher prices in the near future.

The only politician talking about peaking oil is the co-leader of our Green Party (8 seats in Parliament out of 120). When it comes to energy she's one switched on cookie.

Unfortunately our leading political parties, both on the conservative and socialist sides are locked into the paradigm of needing to grow the economy faster so as to get us back into the top half of the OECD GDP rankings (perahps we should just stick to the world rugby rankings). This seems to mean increased intensification of agriculture (with higher energy inputs), increased tourism (more aircraft miles) and investment in traditional infrastructure such as freeways (yikes), large scale thermal generation, and promoting petroleum exploration (indifferent interest so far).

Cheers Doug
Wellington, NZ