Yes, OPEC is crying wolf?

What has changed since Doha has been the factual reporting about production ramp ups particularly by the Saudi's whose real returns seem to be coming from their refineries, which they are getting into in a big way? And because of the threat of unconventional oil and gas? And the rise and rise of alternative energy solutions, like CSG here in Oz?

Even more so save for a mountain of misinformation/fear mongering mania?

Look at the facts, recent technical innovation by the Dutch has produced a method of desalination that turn salt water into 95% potable water for around 25% of the traditional cost of traditional desal, and inso doing has produced a cost effective source of irrigation water, in common use according to screaming headlines, in Texas?

We here were shielded from this life saving information so that four farmers a week could get on with preventable suicide?

Even so, when we are allowed to know the facts, shut the gate activists, (non farmers to a generic man) may find they're the ones locked out?

That said, even with vastly improved desal and unless you live on the coast, it becomes a growing problem?

But only if you cannot use it? Say stored in plastic lined, disused, flat black painted, silos, (to absorb heat) where thin plates of aluminum and copper, will react chemically to produce considerable almost free energy day and night! And enough to say power the pumps that brings this life saving, bank balance saving, liquid to the surface, desalinate it and spray where useful?

The Saudis have eventually woken to the fact that OPEC's confected scarcity has lead to all the alternative energy solutions, including CSG pure enough to be fed directly into ceramic fuel cells, to produce 80% coefficient energy, the best by far, and twice as good as anything produced by conventional combustion! Moreover, the exhaust product of this particular combination is mostly pristine water vapor! And high tech energy, available long before Doha!

A case of gather ye rosebuds while ye may for the Saudis!?
Alan B.

Afterthought and further explanation: The unless you live adjacent to the coast problem I was referring to, was the remnant salt liquer. Which is warmed in plastic lined silos i.e., which can be used as described as vast batteries that produce "useable" almost free power!

Particularly when (solar thermal applications described as above) warmed or hot! D.C. that can be used to replace increasingly expensive diesel/reticulated electricity in stationary farm applications! Will get back later, with an update on the remarkable dutch desal breakthrough. Watch this space.
Alan B.

As promised, more info. The new desal breakthrough technology, which I understand has already been successfully trialled in Texas, with reports that claimed desal which produced 95% potable water for quarter of the cost of traditional reverse osmosis, membrane filtered desalination?

And as such cost effective in some irrigation applications? (underground tapes supported by layered film, layered on top of ground, with the seed drill?)

A description of this technological breakthrough is authored by; David L Chandler, MIT News Office Nov 12 2015.

New approach uses an electrically driven shock wave within a stream of flowing water, which pushes salty water to one side and fresh water to the other. Desalination as scalable and continuous water deionisation by shock wave electrodialysis, which filters water through small glass particles.

Described more fully for the technically minded, in the Journal, Environmental science and Technology, by Professor Martin Bazant, graduate Sven Schlumpher, undergraduate Nancy Lu, and former post Doc, Martin Suss. Hope some of that helps?
Alan B.

Further comment: An deionization process may well remove much more than just salt? But numerous other nasties as well?

Some of which could be problematic pathogens and contaminants? Some of which like Arsenic, Benzene or firefighting foam, recently featured in the news and apparently made some formerly expensive properties virtually worthless?

No real harm would ensue, if a few government grants were in the offing to enable pilot studies to desalinate and dionze some contaminated groundwater, which then was applied as surface irrigation, may allow some formerly salinated or otherwise contaminated soil to be decontaminated and reclaimed for productive purpose?

I believe we all would be better served if some farms were rendered virtually drought proof, than mindlessly locked away from nation serving development? And surely a better more useful outcome than cash strapped farmers driven to suicide by their seemingly insoluble financial situations?

Moreover and shamefully, energy development, just not on the not to do list/secret agenda of the anti dam, anti development, green/shut the gate movement?

I also believe as demonstrated so ably by a pioneering Peter Andrews, of Australia story fame, that our environment would be more than well served by many more small upland dams, that worked to force much more of the surplus surface flow into the landscape, thus forcing the salt table lower.

Even so, allow an environmental flow to continue years longer into the teeth of persistent droughts, among a host of erstwhile benefits! Some of which would be seriously reduced erosion and flash flood outcomes!

Simply put, a well thought out and well managed, intelligent win/win energy development/water policies, could be used to virtually drought proof much of Australia, particularly our most productive farmland; and resuscitate an almost dead, energy dependant manufacturing sector!?
Alan B.