IN THIS edition of Energy Day we have published details of a report by the environmental pressure group Greenpeace, which argues against the further development of oil reserves, particularly in the UK's Atlantic Margin area. It also attempts to put a case for fossil fuels to be phased out.

Energy Day has not printed these opinions because we agree with them. On the contrary, we disagree with them strongly. But Greenpeace has shown itself to be a cunning and, on occasions, ruthless opponent of the oil industry and its views should be taken seriously.

One of the difficulties for the oil business is that the case put forward by radical environmentalists is so unrealistic that it is tempting to dismiss it out of hand.

Imagine, for a moment, a world without fossil fuels. There would be no private vehicles nor any public transport and international trade would have to be conducted using sailing ships.

The supply of electricity from solar power and other so-called alternatives would be so weak as to cripple industrial activity. And the countless appliances that take the drudgery out of modern life would be made obsolete.

To highlight these flaws in the Greenpeace argument misses the point, however. Of course the general public does not want a return to the dark ages. But it sees Greenpeace - whose name, incidentally, is a magnificent piece of branding worthy of a multi-national corporation - as a means of protesting against the bad things in modern industrial society.

Many people are genuinely worried about the grime, pollution and congestion in the western world. They are worried about the overwhelming might of international big business. And they are concerned about the effects of industrialisation in developing countries.

They may not agree with everything that Greenpeace says, but by supporting it they are registering a protest vote. Not that this helps the oil industry. Indeed, this analysis suggests that the Greenpeace tactic of picking symbolic targets - like Brent Spar - appeals to folk with green leanings.

The development of the Atlantic Margin area is sufficiently removed from most people's day-to-day lives for the campaign to appear relatively harmless. And so far it has been mainly an irritant, rather than a threat.

This could all change very rapidly. For this reason, this newspaper believes that the oil industry needs to be kept informed about Greenpeace, its views and its activities. It pays to be on guard.