We here in the U.S. have finally noticed our energy situation as oil has crossed the $100/bbl mark and our gasoline seems too expensive, despite being roughly a third of what the prices are in Europe.
The United States acts as if its the center of the world, a position that will be slipping away as the dollar collapses. While that collapse is driven by the asset inflation antics and lack of regulation that go all the way back to the Reagan years, this was inevitable as the dollar's value after 1971 was predicated on the United States' ability to secure the flow of the global oil supply.
Globally its more serious than having to drive the speed limit for the sake of gas mileage; electricity goes out for many hours a day. Nuclear armed and fragmenting Pakistan stars far too often in these reports. Lets take a peek into just a week's worth of the electric power outages and related news, courtesy of Leanan's Drum Beat over at The Oil Drum. If you can only follow one link this is the story you want:
The Peak Oil Crisis: We Are Starting To Dim
January 20th
Protests over power leave four dead in Bihar
PATNA, India (Reuters) - At least four people were killed and dozens injured in overnight clashes between police and villagers protesting poor power supply in Bihar, one of India's poorest and most lawless states, police said on Saturday.
Tensions over long periods of power outage in the Kahalgoan area boiled over on Friday when protesters turned violent, prompting police to use batons and open fire.
Gaza power plant begins shutting down
GAZA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Gaza's main power plant began shutting down on Sunday due to a fuel shortage caused by Israel's closure of the Hamas-controlled territory's borders, a move taken in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
January 19th
Pakistan: Textile fears $1b shortfall in exports
KARACHI - Pakistan’s textile industry has estimated a shortfall of around one billion dollars in its exports in the current financial year because of three major factors - cotton crisis, energy crisis and political chaos in the country.
Power cuts plague Iraq, hurt oil production
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Electricity cuts that blacked out Iraq's northern oilfields and main refinery this week were a timely reminder that its hopes of boosting oil production rest on something it does not have -- a dependable power supply.
Iraq has managed to sustain production of around 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), but levels were close to 3 million bpd before the U.S.-led war on Iraq in March 2003.
January 18th
Massachusetts: Soaring electricity prices leave state's manufacturers struggling
State lawmakers will soon finalize energy legislation that aims to promote efficiency and alternatives to fossil fuels. But as legislators iron out differences between recently passed House and Senate bills, businesses say they need to pay closer attention to what many firms consider the real energy crisis: spiraling electricity costs.
China Drought Underlines Hydropower Reliance Risks
BEIJING - A major drought has squeezed electricity output at big dams across southwest China, highlighting the risks of Beijing's massive hydropower expansion plans on coal and oil markets in a warmer, drier world.
January 17th
Drought-hit Brazil maxes out thermal energy
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil is trying to offset falling water levels at drought-hit hydroelectric reservoirs with more thermoelectric generation, including using pricey fuel oil, but officials deny risks of energy shortages.
Outgoing acting Mines and Energy Minister Nelson Hubner said on Thursday the Cuiaba gas-fired plant, which stopped working last September after Bolivia reduced natural gas supplies, will go back on line, now running on fuel oil.
BULGARIA: On To A New Nuclear Path
The European Commission (EC) has given a positive opinion on construction of a nuclear plant at Belene by Russian Atomstroiexport, controlled by Gazprom.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in Sofia to mark the beginning of the 'Year of Russia in Bulgaria', was set to bless the signing of this deal Friday.
Pakistan short of everything except crises
QUETTA, Pakistan - There is a crisis of crises facing Pakistan. While the political crisis centering on President Pervez Musharraf and the future of general elections scheduled for February 18 dominate the headlines, this country of 160-plus million people faces a tangle of escalating problems, extending from energy shortages to soaring wheat prices to a cotton industry facing meltdown.
Albania Hit by Power Blackout
Albania has been hit by a succession of severe energy crises in the last few years, due its total dependence on hydro-power for the generation of electricity, an obsolete distribution network and growing demand from an increasingly-prosperous population.
Bulgaria Stops Electricity Exports
Bulgaria has halted electricity exports for at least a week because of an emergency caused by an exceptionally cold spell at home.
Bulgaria: There should be a report on financial losses caused by closure of 3rd and 4th reactor of NPP
There should be a report on the financial losses which the country suffered after the closure of 3rd and 4th reactor of Nuclear Power Plant Kozloduy, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev said during a jointly press conference together with Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov, FOCUS News Agency informs. Both of them discussed today the execution of the plan for extension of the period for work of 3rd and 4th reactor of NPP Kozloduy
The Peak Oil Crisis: We Are Starting To Dim
While waiting to see how the contest between a demand-killing recession and shrinking oil stockpiles plays out, it might be worthwhile to spend a little time reviewing the world’s electricity situation. If there is any form of energy that would be sorely missed by people who had once had it, electricity would be it.
Private cars we could do without, but not our lights and appliances. Most of us here in America have been blessed to have an unlimited amount of electricity for all of our adult lives. There are very few left who can remember a time when it was not universally available.
January 16th
Uganda: Fuel Shortage Jolts Energy
The Uganda government is considering generation of more megawatts of hydropower to fill the gap created by a reduction in the amount of thermal power caused by the fuel shortage.
Pakistan: Hosiery exporters losing orders
Hosiery, an export oriented industry has become unable to meet commitments to foreign buyers and further orders are not being confirmed from importers on the plea that power and gas crisis will not let the exporters fulfil their commitments.
Pakistan: Power shortage hitting pharma industry
The current energy crisis has badly affected the production of the pharmaceutical industry in the country, which has an export target of around $ 1 billion by 2010, said Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Chairman (North) Muhammad Asad on Tuesday.
He said the pharmaceutical industry was facing difficulties in production of life saving medicines due to gas and electricity load shedding.
January 15th
If it's broken, blame Musharraf; most do
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - For much of the last month, making a successful withdrawal at the National Savings bank has required a certain amount of luck.
For half an hour at a time, four random times a day, the bank's power is cut off as part of a series of rolling blackouts spurred by a countrywide electricity shortage. When the power dies, so do the lights and access to computerized banking records.
Southern China Shuts Power Capacity on Coal Shortage
China has shut down more than 6 percent of the power generating capacity in its southern provinces because of a coal shortage, with the region bracing for the worst electricity shortage in at least five years.
...China burns coal to generate about 78 percent of its electricity. The nation became a net importer of coal for the first time in January last year and consumption has outpaced gains in output from Australia and Indonesia. Rising coal prices and domestic transportation bottlenecks have contributed to a lack of the fuel, Xiao said.
January 14th
Zimbabwe: Power Cuts Fatal Blow to Ailing Health Sector
SHEILA Moyo (not her real name) remembers with fondness the elderly woman who assisted her during childbirth each time she looks at her bouncing baby.
Moyo (27), gave birth at night near Glenview Polyclinic on 31 December, with the assistance of the stranger who appeared from "nowhere" to rescue her.
The young woman, who was in labor, had been turned away from the clinic after nurses decided that without electricity, it would be impossible to help her deliver.
...They said they would have swung into action if she had brought the three candles required to light up the clinic during a blackout.
Russia: Demonstrations Continue Amid Energy Crisis In Dagestan. Investigation Launched
Thousands have taken to the streets of the Dagestani capital, as widespread power outages continued across the region. As the Kavkazsky Uzel (Caucasian Knot) Information Agency reported, demonstrators blocked traffic in the city center, and built barricades, even as temperatures reached negative 15 degrees Celsius.