The need for alternative of oil
Mohammad Shahidul Islam | Monday, 7 July 2008
EVER since man discovered oil as a source of energy, the importance of and the demand for oil has only increased. The emergence of oil not only saw the gradual demise of the 'coal age', but its effectiveness as a source of energy caused yet another industrial revolution, enabling mankind to improve their lives with new technological inventions powered by oil.
Consequently, almost every aspect of today's life, whether it is traveling, working, or cooking your simple meal, is inextricably linked to oil, coming in all forms like petrol, diesel and gas.
However, this dependence on oil which is a non-renewable energy source, has for years caused problems for nations across the globe, resulting in what has come to be known as the 'oil crisis'.
Over the past half a century, the world economy and the economies of most countries have experienced constant pangs owing to soaring oil prices, attributed to the gradual depletion of oil deposits worldwide and the capricious decisions of the OPEC.
The impact of the oil crisis on developing countries like Bangladesh whose energy requirements are largely met by oil, has been severe due to its ripple effects on the cost of living, as is evident from situation we are facing after the price of oil hit the US $ 135 mark last month.
Beyond these economic repercussions, the energy crisis is also a global problem as scientists have already predicted that in the 25 years to come, mankind will run out of all oil resources.
With the oil prices hitting yet another new high at $ 143.00 a barrel, the energy options for the future must receive the highest priority of not only the state, but of all citizens. Unfortunately there does not seem to be any sense of urgency that it deserves yet, from either sector. In the meantime the price of oil continues to go up and the present situation of Bangladesh is consequently chaotic.
On the other hand, the efforts of the government as evidenced by newspaper reports are focused only on encouraging the conservation of energy. While this is definitely an effort which should receive due attention, not only of the government, but of all citizens, it will not solve the present or future energy crisis.
Given adequate recognition and support the indigenous and cheap resources can be developed very fast to overcome the impending crisis without mortgaging the welfare of the future generations, to a continued dependence on imported dirty fuels.
No new technology is needed and only minimal changes are needed in the existing equipment and facilities. The cost of such changes can be recovered in a few months by the industries by way of the saving in energy costs.
Bangladesh will need to buy or seek foreign assistance to obtain the technologies and the equipment for the conversion of the energy resources to the required form. But under no circumstance should we resort to purchase of the fuel resources themselves from abroad as the solution to our energy needs.
On examination of the various economic problems facing Bangladesh, it was observed that the oil energy crisis that has been prevalent for a couple of decades is the most critical problem that strains the country's economy. This as a result prevents its forward march which is more critical in magnitude than any other crisis.
It is a well-known fact that almost all the countries in Asia other than Bangladesh have already taken necessary action to find solutions to the oil energy crisis. Many industrialized nations are spending enormous sums of money in oil exploration by sending exploratory missions to all corners of the globe where new deposits of oil may be discovered.
The main thrust would be to establish production plants to manufacture alternative fuels in order to save valuable foreign exchange and create employment opportunities.
Alarm bells have started ringing in oil importing countries partly because of the spiralling oil prices and partly over fears of a potential supply disruption. A Paris-based international energy agency has put together a draft report entitled 'Saving Oil in a Hurry: Measures for Rapid Demand Restraint in Transport'.
The report underlines the vulnerability of the member nations to price shocks and supply disruptions and goes on to discuss ways of reducing dependence on oil used in the transportation sector which leads oil consumption all over the world.
Drastic emergency measures have been contemplated by the report such as driving plans on weekends, alternate day car use, etc. The report has computed the extent of policing that would be required to enforce the ban and to justify the cost involved. The fuel importers must be ready with a plan to suddenly curtail consumption without seriously disrupting normal life.
Many expeditions in search of oil have been sent to the seas while equal or more such missions are exploring the landmass including the North and South Poles. Many governments and private enterprises have invested in oil exploration. The technology necessary has been made mobile so that they can be installed in the oceans making easier the extraction of oil from the seabed as well hunt for new oil deposits.
Studies conducted in many countries have resulted in the discovery of a number of alternatives to petroleum. Vegetable oil such as, Soya oil, Rape seed oil etc... are the alternatives for diesel. Ethanol is the most widely used alternative fuel, which is used extensively in countries such as Brazil, USA, Canada, India etc. Automobile powered by gasoline and ethanol are widely used in these countries. For example, in USA around 6 billion litres of ethanol are used in blending gasoline.
Ethanol can be made from high starch containing crops such as manioc and maize or high sugar containing crops such as sugar cane and sweet sorghum. Acknowledging the challenge posed by excessive oil consumption, the USA has just 3 per cent of global oil reserves even as it consumes 25 per cent of global production.
They want billions of tons of bio mass, crop residues and agricultural waste produced in the country to generate electricity that would fuel vehicles in the future.
Tax shy Americans are being persuaded to fund extraction of costly Shell oil and Alberta tar sands through levies on petroleum consumption. These fuels cost thrice as much to mine as conventional oil and its exploration.
There is an urgent need for oil exploration, says scientists and oil geologists. A recent explosion at an oil refinery near Houston USA, that claimed lives has further accentuated the American sense of paranoia over the vulnerability of global oil pipelines and infrastructure forcing them to look inward for solutions.
This implies that high cost is incurred not only on oil exploration but also in extracting oil safely and in its efficient distribution. While oil explorers are searching worldwide for oil, it is essential that short-term and medium-term measures are taken to reduce fuel consumption.
It could be achieved by reducing traffic congestion. Heavy vehicles including lorries and containers on roads during rush hours cause traffic congestion.
Traffic jams cause an appreciable waste of fuel. Staggered office times and a change in school times would reduce traffic congestion to a considerable extent and thus reduce fuel consumption and hence our expenditure on fuel imports.
Consumption of electricity in offices can be reduced to a considerable extent if action is taken to cut down excessive use of electricity. Reducing consumption of electric power in offices and other public places would considerably reduce our expenditure on oil thereby reducing our expenditure on fuel imports.
In Bangladesh we must establish a government policy to use ethanol as an additive to petrol as done in the rest of the world. We must impose a limit for ethanol say about 10 per cent in petrol. We must educate the masses on benefits of producing and using ethanol.
We must also establish a price structure for ethanol. We must start to produce at least 10 per cent of the local requirement of fuel for vehicles. Part of ethanol requirement could be produced using molasses from the sugar industry. The cost to explore oil in the vicinity of the sea owned by our nation is enormous.
Undoubtedly, contributions of the readers and the experts in this field can substantially help in finding effective ways and means to tackle the crisis, which has reached alarming proportions affecting most of the developing countries of the world. Therefore it is high time; the attention of the whole world was focused on this latest threat to the survival of the civilisation .
Mohammad Shahidul Islam is a Tourism Worker. Email:
[email protected]
Consequently, almost every aspect of today's life, whether it is traveling, working, or cooking your simple meal, is inextricably linked to oil, coming in all forms like petrol, diesel and gas.
However, this dependence on oil which is a non-renewable energy source, has for years caused problems for nations across the globe, resulting in what has come to be known as the 'oil crisis'.
Over the past half a century, the world economy and the economies of most countries have experienced constant pangs owing to soaring oil prices, attributed to the gradual depletion of oil deposits worldwide and the capricious decisions of the OPEC.
The impact of the oil crisis on developing countries like Bangladesh whose energy requirements are largely met by oil, has been severe due to its ripple effects on the cost of living, as is evident from situation we are facing after the price of oil hit the US $ 135 mark last month.
Beyond these economic repercussions, the energy crisis is also a global problem as scientists have already predicted that in the 25 years to come, mankind will run out of all oil resources.
With the oil prices hitting yet another new high at $ 143.00 a barrel, the energy options for the future must receive the highest priority of not only the state, but of all citizens. Unfortunately there does not seem to be any sense of urgency that it deserves yet, from either sector. In the meantime the price of oil continues to go up and the present situation of Bangladesh is consequently chaotic.
On the other hand, the efforts of the government as evidenced by newspaper reports are focused only on encouraging the conservation of energy. While this is definitely an effort which should receive due attention, not only of the government, but of all citizens, it will not solve the present or future energy crisis.
Given adequate recognition and support the indigenous and cheap resources can be developed very fast to overcome the impending crisis without mortgaging the welfare of the future generations, to a continued dependence on imported dirty fuels.
No new technology is needed and only minimal changes are needed in the existing equipment and facilities. The cost of such changes can be recovered in a few months by the industries by way of the saving in energy costs.
Bangladesh will need to buy or seek foreign assistance to obtain the technologies and the equipment for the conversion of the energy resources to the required form. But under no circumstance should we resort to purchase of the fuel resources themselves from abroad as the solution to our energy needs.
On examination of the various economic problems facing Bangladesh, it was observed that the oil energy crisis that has been prevalent for a couple of decades is the most critical problem that strains the country's economy. This as a result prevents its forward march which is more critical in magnitude than any other crisis.
It is a well-known fact that almost all the countries in Asia other than Bangladesh have already taken necessary action to find solutions to the oil energy crisis. Many industrialized nations are spending enormous sums of money in oil exploration by sending exploratory missions to all corners of the globe where new deposits of oil may be discovered.
The main thrust would be to establish production plants to manufacture alternative fuels in order to save valuable foreign exchange and create employment opportunities.
Alarm bells have started ringing in oil importing countries partly because of the spiralling oil prices and partly over fears of a potential supply disruption. A Paris-based international energy agency has put together a draft report entitled 'Saving Oil in a Hurry: Measures for Rapid Demand Restraint in Transport'.
The report underlines the vulnerability of the member nations to price shocks and supply disruptions and goes on to discuss ways of reducing dependence on oil used in the transportation sector which leads oil consumption all over the world.
Drastic emergency measures have been contemplated by the report such as driving plans on weekends, alternate day car use, etc. The report has computed the extent of policing that would be required to enforce the ban and to justify the cost involved. The fuel importers must be ready with a plan to suddenly curtail consumption without seriously disrupting normal life.
Many expeditions in search of oil have been sent to the seas while equal or more such missions are exploring the landmass including the North and South Poles. Many governments and private enterprises have invested in oil exploration. The technology necessary has been made mobile so that they can be installed in the oceans making easier the extraction of oil from the seabed as well hunt for new oil deposits.
Studies conducted in many countries have resulted in the discovery of a number of alternatives to petroleum. Vegetable oil such as, Soya oil, Rape seed oil etc... are the alternatives for diesel. Ethanol is the most widely used alternative fuel, which is used extensively in countries such as Brazil, USA, Canada, India etc. Automobile powered by gasoline and ethanol are widely used in these countries. For example, in USA around 6 billion litres of ethanol are used in blending gasoline.
Ethanol can be made from high starch containing crops such as manioc and maize or high sugar containing crops such as sugar cane and sweet sorghum. Acknowledging the challenge posed by excessive oil consumption, the USA has just 3 per cent of global oil reserves even as it consumes 25 per cent of global production.
They want billions of tons of bio mass, crop residues and agricultural waste produced in the country to generate electricity that would fuel vehicles in the future.
Tax shy Americans are being persuaded to fund extraction of costly Shell oil and Alberta tar sands through levies on petroleum consumption. These fuels cost thrice as much to mine as conventional oil and its exploration.
There is an urgent need for oil exploration, says scientists and oil geologists. A recent explosion at an oil refinery near Houston USA, that claimed lives has further accentuated the American sense of paranoia over the vulnerability of global oil pipelines and infrastructure forcing them to look inward for solutions.
This implies that high cost is incurred not only on oil exploration but also in extracting oil safely and in its efficient distribution. While oil explorers are searching worldwide for oil, it is essential that short-term and medium-term measures are taken to reduce fuel consumption.
It could be achieved by reducing traffic congestion. Heavy vehicles including lorries and containers on roads during rush hours cause traffic congestion.
Traffic jams cause an appreciable waste of fuel. Staggered office times and a change in school times would reduce traffic congestion to a considerable extent and thus reduce fuel consumption and hence our expenditure on fuel imports.
Consumption of electricity in offices can be reduced to a considerable extent if action is taken to cut down excessive use of electricity. Reducing consumption of electric power in offices and other public places would considerably reduce our expenditure on oil thereby reducing our expenditure on fuel imports.
In Bangladesh we must establish a government policy to use ethanol as an additive to petrol as done in the rest of the world. We must impose a limit for ethanol say about 10 per cent in petrol. We must educate the masses on benefits of producing and using ethanol.
We must also establish a price structure for ethanol. We must start to produce at least 10 per cent of the local requirement of fuel for vehicles. Part of ethanol requirement could be produced using molasses from the sugar industry. The cost to explore oil in the vicinity of the sea owned by our nation is enormous.
Undoubtedly, contributions of the readers and the experts in this field can substantially help in finding effective ways and means to tackle the crisis, which has reached alarming proportions affecting most of the developing countries of the world. Therefore it is high time; the attention of the whole world was focused on this latest threat to the survival of the civilisation .
Mohammad Shahidul Islam is a Tourism Worker. Email:
[email protected]