Contrast Exxon to Shell, which acknowledges peak oil and is investing in non-petroleum technologies.
Course unit 3 "Environmental Choices" discusses Shell.
Exxon Nuclear?
Eh ... it's been done. 
Seriously though, it's funny that you mention Areva. What's left of Exxon Nuclear's low-enriched uranium fuel fabrication plant in Richland, Washington, is now owned by Areva.
I think Exxon is acknowledging oil and gas depletion in the most spectacular way an oil company could.
At $8 billions a quarter in stock buy-backs, Exxon officers are on track to fully retire the company stock from the market within 15 years and, for all effects, to liquidate the company.
They are simply closing shop in an orderly manner.
I wouldn't hold my breath in hoping that Exxon/Mobil will see the light and invest in alternative energy let alone nuclear power. They are making money hand over fist the way things currently stand.
Just yesterday the Washington Post printed an article saying how Exxon is making billions putting the squeeze on its independent dealers. The dealer's only choice is either try to make a go at the low profit margins that Exxon insists they make or turn in the keys and give up on their investment.
The dealers are staying up at night worrying how to make ends meet and Exxon execs are laughing all the way to the bank. Not exactly a good example of corporate citizenship.
If you are interested her is the link to the Washington Post article that I referenced.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp...mail/
components
Well, no. If Exxon shareholders want to get into 'alternative energy' they can sell some shares and invest in alternative energy businesses. Exxon's board is entirely entitled to stick at what they know best.
steve-roberts:
Of course Exxon's management led board of directors is entitled to stick to what they know best. Exxon's shareholders, including members of the family that founded the empire of which Exxon is just a part, are also entitled to seek to change that course.
As the title of my post asks - should Exxon consider itself an energy company or a petroleum and petrochemical company.
I once wrote a brief article that I called Building New School Oil Wells (June 26, 2005) that tried to make a case for major oil companies to deploy some of their incredible cash flow - amounting to about $700,000 per employee in 2007 - into a business that just might sustain the company for another several hundred years.
I still think that would be a good idea.
Rod wrote: "I once wrote a brief article that I called Building New School Oil Wells (June 26, 2005) that tried to make a case for major oil companies to deploy some of their incredible cash flow - amounting to about $700,000 per employee in 2007 - into a business that just might sustain the company for another several hundred years."
These executives of multinational corporations aren't interested in another several hundred years hence when they'll be dead. They are interested in next quarter's stock price and how much they can line their golden parachutes with. If they can get enough money right now to protect themselves from the coming crash, then what need have they to care about the world? These aren't entrepenuers who really care about business and the state of the world. These are monopolists and oligarchs who care only about how well they can live and the rest of humanity be damned.
Anonymous:
I agree with you. I happen to care very deeply for "the rest of humanity" and seek to shame the "leaders" of large corporations to think more broadly about their role in the world.
If that effort fails, well, they will just have to suffer the consequences of being beaten by a bunch of entrepreneurs. It has happened before - just think about how big and powerful the railroads were before guys like Ford started making cars or how powerful Control Data, IBM, Sperry, Univac, National Cash Register and Digital Computer were before guys like Moore, Jobs and Gates recognized the power of the microprocessor.
Don't forget how powerful Xerox was before Jobs and Gates recognized that they could blatantly steal all of their ideas and technology.
Commenting by HaloScan
