Limited long term supply

For the majority of developers of a new technology or system, and in particular those outside the mainstream of large corporations, a crucial element of the development plan becomes that of who will pay for itV With development capital in short supply and the venture capital (VC) market not necessarily willing to invest where there is a limited long-term potential for an initial placement offer (IPO) exit to the stock market and relatively low capital needs, the developer must be aware of the financial market... 

It is generally agreed that worldwide petroleum supply will eventually reach its productive limit, peak, and begin a long term decline. One of the alternatives is the Nation s untapped oil shale as a strategically located, long-term source of reliable, affordable, and secure oil. The extent of U.S. oil shale resources, which amounts to more than 2 trillion barrels, has been known for a century. In 1912, the President established the Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves. There have been several commercial attempts to produce oil from oil shale, but these have failed because of the lower cost of petroleum at the time. With future declines in petroleum production, market forces are expected to improve the economic viability of oil shale. 

The upper limit of energy potentially capable of being produced from a marine or ocean based biomass has not yet been determined, but it is estimated that the potential contribution to the long-term U.S. energy supply could be at least equal to today s natural gas consumption or 20 quads per year. 

Owing to the limited domestic supply of rutile (a mixed titania and zirconia containing ore) much effort is being directed toward commercial development of rutile made from il-menite, an abundant Ti ore. A factor for a long term pressure on the price ofZris the probability of utilization of rock deposits of ilmenite as the principle source of Ti. Rock-type deposits do not contain Zr in recoverable quantities... 

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