AT LAST, SOMETHING REAL

At last there is something real (and realizable soon) on our beleaguered energy front. The Central Energy Fund, NT Energy UK and Bataung Strategic Investments are to form a joint venture (JV) to invest US$10 billion to extract coal bed methane to power generators. The JV is to be called GasCo and it will explore for methane in coal beds in Limpopo, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. What makes this announcement different from all the others we have had in the last year is that is doable, believable -- and it could be quick. Coal bed methane and the conversion of this gas to liquid fuels could provide a real, clean and long-term addition to South Africa's energy needs. It would reduce reliance on imported energy, cut energy costs, boost employment and is environmentally friendly. Drilling to confirm coal deposits in the Free State began in August and has already found massively thick coal seams. Drilling has also begun in Mpumalanga. Next year it is Limpopo's turn. Go for it, manne.

NEVER MIND MAIZE, LOOK AT ALGAE!

WHILE the Gadarene throng rush off to join the bio-fuel bubble, pinning their hopes on maize, sugar, canola or jatropha, Shell Oil have quietly joined up with those looking at a far better prospect -- marine algae. Shell's geek partners in this are HR Biopetroleum and together they are forming a joint venture (JV) to be called Cellana. The JV will build a demonstration plant in Hawaii to find out which algae produce the highest yields. But why algae? Well -- and listen closely Cabinet members --because marine algae can be grown in sea water ponds and not use up agricultural land and fresh water. It also doubles its mass several times a day and produces at least 15 times more oil per hectare than alternatives such as rape, palm soya or jatropha. Better still, algae soaks up CO2 -- important to those who believe in the new religion of climate change. Fear not. The world will not come to an end soon -- even if we do run out of oil some time this century. More to the point, we do not need the Reverend Al Gore and others to form a new priesthood to govern us all. Man's ingenuity is a far better bet to come to the rescue.

Transformation

One of my generally-shy readers has taken exception to my comment on the fact that recent plans to expand our fuels infrastructure are remarkably light on financing details, and some seem to be spending an awefully lot of money on planning, pre-planning and pre-pre-planning. Spigot is anti transformation, he says. Spigot is white, he notes. QED. Well, is he? Blogs are colour blind unless my skill with words indicates otherwise. So, one who can spell ( sometimes) is ipso facto white? Now, that is a racist thought. Do I object to what I see as a wast of money? Oh, yes. Especially if the wastee is a parastatal organisation using taxpayers' money. Do I object to fake overseas training programmes for previously disadvantaged people -- programmes clearly offered as a sweetener to secure megabuck deals? Yes, sir. I would much rather see people properly trained right here. South Africa is not a colony, grateful for the help of its previous old or new wannabee,masters. A corporation in Houston is no better and no worse than a corporation operating right here. The fact that it is in Houston doesn't make it better. To think so is genuinely colonial-- as is an obsession with colour.