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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Marshall Islands declares 'economic emergency' over energy crisis |
| 2008-07-08 |
| The tiny western Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands has declared a state of economic emergency as soaring fuel prices threaten to shut down electricity supplies. 'The national power utilities are projected to face an estimated shortfall of 17.5 million US dollars to 21 million US dollars over the next 12 months assuming the global (fuel price) trend continues,' he said. This shortfall is close to 20 percent of the total national budget. Tomeing said the country has enough diesel to keep the power generators running until the end of August but needs to find 8.5 million dollars in the next week to pay Seoul-based SK Networks for last month's diesel shipment and a downpayment for the next shipment. The Marshalls Energy Company told the government last week that it cannot raise the money in time without an immediate cash injection. The cabinet has decided to seek financial help from the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and other countries and donor agencies to prevent a shut down of power in the country of about 54,000 people. 'Without electricity everything will come to a standstill,' Finance Minister Jack Ading told visiting Asian Development Bank officials this week. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #3 I'd like to point out that dams don't have to be built on rivers. Tidal power and a damn across an inlet isn't very hard to do. |
| Posted by: flash91 2008-07-08 12:05 |
| #2 Um wouldn't this be about the perfect location for alternate energy? How many wind farms would the trade winds support? How much solar power is right there on the equator? How about some ocean wave generating stations? Good grief the greenies should be able to handle this no sweat! Why do they need stinkin' petroleum? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-07-08 10:29 |
| #1 The US could turn off the laser for a day or so and fill up their grid. No drilling would be required. Seriously tho, I assume Kwajalein not part of that grid? |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-07-08 07:47 |