[Sosfbay-discuss] Saudi Prince on energy (in)dependence

[Jim Doyle]

Saudi prince urges US to admit oil dependency
Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:26:41 GMT

Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki al-Faisal has scoffed at US efforts
for finding an alternative to oil, urging Washington to recognize
its energy dependency on the Middle East.

In an article published by Italian newspaper /Il Sole 24 Ore/ on Friday,
Turki ruled out energy independence as an unrealistic, groundless and
 harmful concept, which is likely to reappear following an economic
recovery and subsequently higher oil prices.

"There is no technology on the horizon which can replace oil to satisfy
colossal needs of US industry, transport and armed forces. Any future
scenario will be characterized by mix of renewable and non-renewable
energies whether you like it or not," Turki said.

The US has been seeking green energy since President Barack Obama
raised the issue of independency from Middle Eastern oil in his electoral
campaign in a bid to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases and to reduce
the use of fossil fuels.

Turki's comments come amid the US Senate's efforts to pass a wide-ranging
energy and environmental bill to check the amount of greenhouse gases that
big industries are allowed to emit.

The former Saudi intelligence chief, and the Kingdom's one-time envoy to
Washington and London, urged the US to abandon the rhetoric of energy
independence and instead recognize interdependence of energy producers
and consumers.

"Whether you like it or not, the destinies of the United States and 
Saudi Arabia
are linked and will remain (linked) for decades," he said.

The United States ranks as the world's biggest energy consumer and is the
primary trading partner for Saudi Arabia -- the world's biggest oil 
exporter.

MRS/HGH
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=105280&sectionid=351020205