Who is kidding who?

WHEN consultants blame Governments for delays that are harming an industry that does not yet exist, Spigot smells a large rat. So it is with the so called bio fuels industry (one hardly-used and now mothballed ethanol distillery near Bothaville) which is being hyped to death to the extent that consultants think a boom in fees is coming their way. Consulting company Frost & Sullivan , while complaining of delays by Government, is contributing mightily to the hype by claiming this week that, "the South African bio fuels market could earn revenues of $872-million in 2010, and over one-billion dollars in 2013." Mmm. Don't count your chickens, chaps. It added -- and note the use of the subjunctive --"Bio fuels could play an important role in stimulating economic activity in agricultural communities and boosting employment..." Could, not will. The consultancy did say that while the South African bio fuels market was "currently only theoretical". Just a grain of truth there.