Energy Campaigner John Hemming MP has welcomed the revalation today in an email to John Hemming that Sir David King, the Chief Scientific Advisor to the government, is doing some scenario planning on Gas and Oil Reserves.

5.39.50pm GMT Wed 2nd Nov 2005

Energy Campaigner John Hemming MP has welcomed the revalation today in an email to John Hemming that Sir David King, the Chief Scientific Advisor to the government, is doing some scenario planning on Gas and Oil Reserves.

"We have had lots of bland statements from the government that everything is well. However, the CBI and a number of large energy using companies share the concerns I raised in early September that there could be gas supply difficulties this winter."

"I am pleased, therefore, to hear that the Sir David has agreed to look at the range of possibilities for gas and oil reserves globally."

"We know that the UK's production of oil peaked in 1999. We, however, will not know when global oil production will peak until a few years after it has peaked."

Sir David King said in an email to Mr Hemming: "I am fully aware of the need to do scenario work - from worst to best case - on oil and gas reserves and our ability to be prepared for each of them. This is something I currently have in hand."

John Hemming said, "It is good to know that the Chief Scientific Advisor has his head screwed on the right way. Clearly he is taking the right action even if the government themselves wish to keep their heads firmly planted in the sand."

In the year 2000 the UK government predicted that oil production would peak in 2015. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil predicts that oil production will peak in 2010. Conventional crude oil production is thought to have peaked globally (by ASPO) in 2004, but non-conventional sources are likely to grow for a while.

Energy Campaigning MP John Hemming working with the campaign group Powerswitch will also be running a month of events to highlight the issue of Peak Oil Production during November 2005.

Culminating on 23rd November with a peak oil summit in the House of Commons the campaign will be highlighting the need for the government to be open about calculations as to when global oil production will peak. Professor Kenneth S. Deffeyes a geologist who is Professor Emeritus at Princeton University made a recent prediction that 24th November 2005 could be the date of peak global oil production. Although the true date of peak global oil production will not be clear until a few years after the date we are highlighting that date to emphasise the fact that a debate is needed as to when it will occur.

Given the likelihood of massive hikes in gas prices this winter and the experience of recent hikes in oil prices the market is signalling that peak oil could be close. The key question is not one of "running out of oil", but when production peaks so that in subsequent years less oil is consumed.

ENDS