Entitled the “Sarhan Well” – with the word sarhan meaning “daydreaming” as well as the name of the oil well in the valley known as “Wadi Sarhan” – I think Emad Hajjaj’s latest caricature perfectly describes this country’s pipe dreams when it comes to oil production; a topic that has picked up some steam recently in Parliament.
Every time a new government takes power in Jordan they burst out with promises of oil explorations, full-fledged oil shale production, et cetera. As time goes by, these promises remain broken and of course they are compensated with rising fuel prices. This sets the stage for the next government to put on a bigger and more spectacular show; something that says they’re handling the situation.
The Lower House is following suit these days who are demanding the government set a date to present their findings on oil explorations in the country. Part of this is due to the discovery by local citizens in the East Maan region of a small area that seems to be bleeding black stuff from the ground. The Sarhan oil well, according to experts, would only produce 20 barrels of oil a day, representing $2000 a day in monetary terms. The well was first explored in 1988 when production wasn’t worth it with oil being $10. Today, it’s a different story but despite the media hype, the well’s contents are barely enough to cover the fuel needed for a Hummer making a short trip to the supermarket. Nevertheless, the government has contracted an Indian company to start its digging some time next year.
Politicians in this country still love dragging the media around to these little remote desert oil sites to conducts a few experiments that are along the lines of using a match to show how it burns. They take a few pictures and they all run these stories that are like the next coming of Christ, which is what the state loves because hopes and pipe dreams have that subduing element to them. It’s just another distraction from the reluctance to invest heavily in the idea of sustainable, viable and long term alternative energies. Ones that don’t have the ability to turn the sky black or give birth to a generation of three legged, radioactive kids that shoot lasers from their eyes.
The truth of the matter is, of all the moot issues in this country, the oil topic is perhaps the most redundant and recycled; the one that has no beginning and no end.
Just a whole lotta dreaming.
“Ones that don’t have the ability to turn the sky black or give birth to a generation of three legged, radioactive kids that shoot lasers from their eyes.” – hahahahhahaha! brilliantly phrased!
I think our policy makers should take a few art and drama lessons – they seriously lack the vision and sense of imagination needed to look and plan beyond today (actually yesterday :p). Oil and nuclear are the most readily utulised energy sources today – they won’t be in 50 years time. so in 50 years we will still be lagging behind….. now if we adopt a renewable agenda now like you suggested, we may actually be leading rather than lagging in 50 years … but that would require vision, which seems to me to be in short supply.
hence my case for art lessons for all newly elected MPs! hehehehe
An indian company along with others had either renewed contracts or were newly assigned. Whats that company name that is to dig the sarhan well?
And the red – dead is on its way as a full renewable energy, but many politics, research, and finance are involved.
Wind, and bio energy are highly expensive or scientifically advanced that requires scientific infrastructure that we do not have.
I suggest we let people eat hummus and Fool(Oh and majadarrah) without cumin(To increase the amount of gas created), then we link the 4-5 million new sources of natural gas to a main line that direclty goes to either the refinery or electric company. Problem solved. Creativity people..
“I think our policy makers should take a few art and drama lessons – they seriously lack the vision and sense of imagination needed to look and plan beyond today (actually yesterday :p).”
Deena, looks like Mohanned has got the solution; practical and cheap!
loooooooooooooool @ Muhanned.. man, you definitely got an imagination and a wider vision than all our politicians in the field!
Deena, “hence my case for art lessons for all newly elected MPs! ” ….well argued
Ahmad, the company is called Universal. we have the infrastructure and capability for solar energy. the cost lies in producing panels. but there are various ways in which our energy plans could be tackled, least of which is strict regulations regarding the building of new office buildings, skyscrapers and suburbs, to utilize solar energy in order to create self-sufficient development projects.
Mohanned, I think Emad’s brother, Osama Hajjaj, already came up with that idea in a caricature he drew a few months back.
I Love Emad , I actually knew him personally back in Prisma ( design company ) .
Now back to jordan and there dreams of oil , I’ll stick with the fact that the point of dreaming is in the joy of imagination not whether it comes true or not . So let them Dream i say .. Let them dream .. 😛