According to New Scientist magazine, production will peak in (i.e. will fall off after) around 2010-2015. What this means is the price of oil will start increasing and will never come down again. (OK: "increasing more".) So all you US-folks who marvel that we pay over 5 pounds a gallon for our juice over here will find your selves doing it. Then you'll know why we drive such small cars!

It doesn't help to realise that at least half the oil will never come out of the ground, because there's just no way to get it out. Thefirst little bit may come out under its own pressure, then they have to pump hot water down the bores to soften it and force it out; but eventually there comes a point where it just won't budge.

Well, that will be good for the environment. It looks like some green alternatives aren't so green: hydrogen may be bad for the atmosphere in large amounts, wave- and wind-powered generators may be bad for wildlife habitats ... it might be nuke or nothing! (Ifwe can find a way of powering all those trucks and diggers they use to mine uranium ...)

Wake me up when it's all over!
Steve