DEAR News Of The Area,
IN a letter published on 17 April, Lex Stewart opined on Australia’s fuel situation.
Some of those statements should not go unquestioned, for example that we now refine only 20 percent of our production.
The reasons for that are not explained in Mr Stewart’s letter, but here they are.
Australia no longer produces crude oil of the grade needed for us to refine, as our refineries are not suitable for the only type of oil we now produce – light, sweet crude oil.
It is also most profitable to send it overseas and sell it where there is better profit to be had.
What is also a fallacy is the idea that we have vast amounts of gas and crude oil reserves.
The truth is that the Howard government sold off most of our gas at very little profit for us, and the oil is basically economically unviable, due to either its extreme depth in the Bass Strait or because it is in shale which is unprofitable to mine and extract.
As for electric power, there are heavy haul vehicles (prime movers) in production in America and China which will be in commercial operation within one year, and in Australia soon.
Surely, encouraging the greater take-up of electrics is looking after our long term interests far more so than fossil fuels?
Regards,
Bill ROBINSON,
Coffs Coast.
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