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Of course the oil industry is not a short term industry.

The short termism is that of the financial sector and the levels of returns demanded by the "private" sector for investment.

Refineries, pipelines, storage and other similar infrastructure are essentially utilities, as are airlines in many areas.

If push comes to shove and they all go bust, do you see governments not stepping in?

"Any economic unit can emit money. The serious problem is to get it accepted" Hyman Minsky

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 at 07:32:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
No, refineries are not utilities though if you'd offered them PUC regulation with guaranteed margins and cover on their stranded assets about 1990, many would have jumped at it.  They were getting crushed with nil return on investment and regulatory demands to invest billions in clean fuels.

That's a problem with the thinking of some on the left.  They believe refiners should just be there to cover their needs without recognizing there's a two way street implicit in that bargain.  You can't have cheap and steady.

by HiD on Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 at 06:31:06 PM EST
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