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Greenhouse emissions out of control: Ric Brazzale, Executive
Director of the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the
peak industry association for sustainable energy in Australia, said the
latest forecasts on greenhouse emissions show they are escalating out
of control.

Efficiency the most cost effective solution: “Energy efficiency
is the most cost effective form of greenhouse gas abatement available,”
Brazzale said. “As a result we are moving to a new phase in energy and
greenhouse policy. Efficiencies are being sought for more and more
products and equipment, and lighter regulations are becoming more
commonplace.”

Efficiencies improve bottom line: “It is inevitable that
Australian businesses will be competing in a carbon constrained economy
in the future. Those companies that implement energy efficiency
strategies now are not only improving their bottom line but also
preparing themselves for the opportunities of the future,” Brazzale
said.

Government schemes save consumer money and reduce emissions:
“The New South Wales Government’s Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme and
Energy Savings Fund are examples of measures already in place that
reward energy reduction and greenhouse gas abatement. These schemes are
driving innovation and at the same time saving consumer’s money up
front and in the long term, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,”
Brazzale said.

Reference: Media contact: Richard Wise, on 0437 255 351. Head
Office: Suite 304, 3nd Floor, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton Vic 3053,
ph: (03) 9349 3077, fax: (03) 9349 3049. Canberra Office: National
Press Club Building, 8/16 National Circuit, Canberra ACT 2600, website:
http://www.bcse.org.au

Erisk Net, 23/11/2005

Plug stuck at bottom of well: Earlier this year the deep
Habancro #2 well hit a problem, which it later tried to plug more than
4 kilometres underground. A team of engineers went on a “fishing
expedition” to retrieve the rented Halliburton plug after it had been
soaked with chemicals to remove debris. But as soon as it was touched,
the plug sailed to the bottom of the well and could not be removed.

New stem and $5 million test required: Now, a new stem needs to
be built over about 30 days in the new year to complete the well, after
which a circulation test will run for six weeks at a cost of up to $5
million. “Could it have been prevented? Of course in hindsight maybe we
could have done things differently,” Dr Bertus de Graaf told
shareholders at the annual meeting in Brisbane. “I am very confident of
moving to Stage Two in May.”

Company bids for $50-70 million govt grant: The nine-member
board, chaired by Martin Albrecht, recently lobbied in Canberra for
funding to help with the cost of a demonstration plant. The company
hopes to be awarded a federal government grant in the order of $50
million to $70 million for its zero emission project. Shares in
Geodynamics, which is 27 per cent owned by Origin and Woodside
Petroleum, rose yesterday to $1.66.

The Courier Mail, 24/11/2005, p. 27

Source: Erisk – www.erisk.net 

Fountain makes no difference, Deputy Mayor: Deputy Mayor David
Hinchliffe last night acknowledged the decision to turn off the main
King George Square fountain would make no difference to Brisbane
reaching its drought targets. “I don’t think for a moment that the Lord
Mayor was saying that our meeting of water reduction targets depended
on us turning off the fountain in King George Square,” he said. “It was
a symbol that we too had to exercise some restraint. It was his
suggestion and we have agreed to that.”

Cabinet setting an example, Lord Mayor: Lord Mayor Campbell
Newman is standing firm on the fountain closure. He said it had the
unanimous support of Civic Cabinet and the mayors of southeast
Queensland had agreed to the same policy – there was no turning back
and there could be no exceptions. “We have to set an example for the
community and every drop counts,” he said.

Fountains lost 250 000 litres annually: Newman said the two city
fountains resulted in a water loss of more than 250,000 litres a year.
“A quarter of a million litres is a quarter of a million litres,” he
said.

The Courier Mail, 24/11/2005, p. 1

Source: Erisk – www.erisk.net 

Contamination caused by earlier factory explosion: The
contamination followed an explosion at a chemical factory upstream in
the Songhua River on 13 November. Five people were killed in the blast.
Schools and businesses in Harbin have been shut.

Water temporarily restored, panic residents stock up: Water was
temporarily restored to the city to allow residents to stock up as the
wave of polluted river water flowed towards the area. The provincial
government said an 8Okm stretch of heavily polluted water would flow
past on Saturday. After the taps were closed, panicked residents rushed
stores to stock up on food and water. “All containers are being used to
store water, including the bathtub,” a factory manager said. People
were jamming the airport and rail stations to leave the area, another
witness said.

The Courier Mail, 24/11/2005, p. 15

Erisk – www.erisk.net 

Bats desalination plant “solution”: The council has calculated
that if the Government paid $1000 to fit 5000-litre tanks in all 1.5
million households, it would cost $1.5 billion or $200 million less
than the expected cost of the desalination plant.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 24/11/2005, p. 6

Source: Erisk – http://www.erisk.net 

Nuclear power only way to secure energy supplies and reduce emissions:
Less than two years after a government paper called nuclear power an
unattractive option, the Prime Minister will set up a government review
to explore options for renewing Britain’s 14 ageing nuclear power
stations, which supply a fifth of the country’s electricity. Blair said
nuclear power is the only way Britain can secure its energy supplies
and meet its commitments to make big cuts in carbon emissions.

Opposition agrees nuclear is an option: Environment Secretary
Margaret Beckett, a leading opponent of nuclear power, appeared to have
relaxed her position, telling the BBC on Sunday that she had always
accepted that Britain “could not afford to close the door on nuclear”.

The Age, 22/11/2005, p. 11

Source: Erisk – http://www.erisk.ne