So here's an example of what happens when it all goes wrong: Venezuela, rich in energy, has been forced to adopt emergency measures (including burning oil inefficiently for power, and reducing much-needed exports as a consequence) to mitigate rolling blackouts.Chavez, of course, blames drought and a resultant fall in hydro-electricity production. However, most commentators reckon that "the shortages also reflect long-term underinvestment in energy infrastructure". Sound familiar ?
Even 3rd-world dictators know this one means trouble. Comrade Hugo has asked everyone to turn off the lights, and inaugurated a radio programme called 'Suddenly Chavez' which will be broadcast randomly (yes I know it's August but I am not making this up), signalled by
the sound of a harp playing local folk-music. "When you hear the pluck of a harp on the radio, maybe Chavez is coming. It's suddenly, at any time, maybe midnight, maybe early morning ..."
... said the fun-loving crackpot and buddy of Ken Livingstone. Don't see him qualifying for BRIC membership any time soon, oil or no oil.
In our case, I can reveal that the Queen has decided against random broadcasting to distract the populace. Instead, as we've said many a time and oft, it'll be quick-n-easy-to-build gas plants that will bridge the looming UK power gap. Costlier than it needs to be, a bit pedestrian, but at the end of the day that's what will happen, and we must look for our entertainment elsewhere.
ND
We had a twenty minute power cut yesterday. It has already started....
ReplyDeleteNo such worries here in France, we export energy to all our neighbours.
ReplyDeleteHe's a fantastic nutjob, that lad. Not too good for the natives perhaps. There was an article on kidnappings and murder squads knocking round Caracus - hmm, bit like Croydon.
ReplyDeleteBing bong bing..
ReplyDelete"Hi di hi Voters!"
trust the pubs in your area have stand-by generators, Lilith...
ReplyDelete...and the Hawaiian Bar, too BQ
don't get me started on France, King B - and remember what happens to those nukes when you get a heat-wave, eh ? (and as to the future, check out M.Roussely's report...)
enough slagging-off of Croydon, DtP, we get along just fine thanks (the London power cuts are going to start around the Olympics sites)
Yes power cuts are political. Here as well. Not least because the power market has been distorted here as a result of Labour being anti-nuclear for most of the last 13 years, and by the CAGW hoax being made law.
ReplyDeleteWe could and should build some coal fired generating stations (to complement new nuclear). Then, at least in extremis, we have indigenous power and fuel not subject to external political pressure.
Dear Nick
ReplyDeleteHand on heart, I genuinely didn't know you lived there - whooops!!
@ND - a little off topic for this post... I'm back from Oz for a couple of weeks and staying with my parents near Didcot. Did you know that Didcot A (the coal fired station) has not been generating any electricity since February? Apparently there is less demand due to the credit crunch. Not sure if this is happening to any other power stations? Or if there is a story in there anywhere?
ReplyDeletebudgie my views on coal are similar to yours (but not necessarily on nukes ...)
ReplyDeleteCroydon, strangely, seems to be a hotbed of blogging DtP, can't think why given the stonking cultural life of the Borough
Richard - demand-destruction in the recession has been pretty pronounced in Europe as a whole, we have indeed looked at it before (e.g. here, and several other times over the months)
All expenses paid holiday for the mother-in-law.
ReplyDelete