tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109825252011-04-22T02:02:34.007+01:00An Insider writes about the vital, but often overlooked chemicals industryBiofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comBlogger511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-42474086558363388132007-02-21T11:12:00.000Z2007-02-21T11:13:54.555Z

If you're into the world of chemicals in Asia, then you might want to check out John Richardson's Asian Chemicals Connections blog...

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1159802509028269682006-10-02T16:20:00.000+01:002006-10-02T16:21:49.080+01:00

If you want to see what I'm now doing in biofuels follow this link

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1144077732993384482006-04-03T16:22:00.000+01:002006-04-03T16:22:13.056+01:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } solar low res, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider. EuroChlor, the part of Cefic which represents the chlorine sector has decided it is going to tell the 40 000 people who live in Brussels, Belgium and work at

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1135853274418893282005-12-29T10:44:00.000Z2005-12-29T10:47:54.433Z

HiI've been going on about podcasting lately, for a sample of what's on offer at ICIS radio click on the link below. It's an exclusive interview about how Europe’s chemical industry faces challenges from the Middle East and Asia. Is the continent is losing its competitiveness? Edouard Croufer, formerly UCB’s director general, a former president of Exxon Chemical Belgium/Holland and now with

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1131540386213035252005-11-09T12:32:00.000Z2005-12-22T15:30:17.773Z

Hi there,I've been a little quiet on this blog for while. That's mostly because I'm now blogging with a bunch of other buiness journalists at Bizbuzzmedia.com. Which is where you can hear the World's first Chemical Industry Podcast: ICIS Radio. You can hear the show athttp://deputyedtiorecn.podomatic.comHere's the RSS feed for your podcatcherhttp://deputyedtiorecn.podOmatic.com/rss2.xmlYou can

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1126518838188743392005-09-12T10:53:00.000+01:002006-12-31T06:28:07.930Z

My worries about the effect on the US economy of Hurrican Katrina is further strengthened today by this story in today's Financial Times. It suggests that the uninsured losses in New Orleans coudl be between $65 billion and $85 billion.If you want to hear a webcast debate on the prospects check this out... Martin Wolf and Michael Lind answer your questions on the political and economic impact of

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1126263480099514142005-09-09T11:57:00.000+01:002005-09-09T11:58:00.100+01:00

The visa application is in, the Embassy was expecting me (thanks BASF) and I collect my entry ticket on Friday next week. We are off on 25 September.In addition to writing for European Chemical News, my main day job, I'll be filling for ICIS news, the online service that my employer operates and I'll be trying to blog. This rather assumes that jet lag works in my favour and I've got bursts of

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1126263291014129272005-09-09T11:54:00.000+01:002005-09-09T11:54:51.020+01:00

One question that will be important in the coming weeks and months is: how will Hurricane Katrina affect the mindset of indebted American consumers? These consumers have been spending more than they saved for many years and this has helped to drive the global economy along.Couple a relatively high level of debt and the high proportion of uninsured homes destroyed by the Hurricane and you have a

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1120641544010911802005-07-06T10:19:00.000+01:002005-07-06T10:22:06.426+01:00

Stock Market News and Investment Information Reuters.comThis story ran in the Times of India, given the difficulty that journalists there have had in untangling who's connected to whom in the attempts to buy Basell, this might be worth taking with a pinch of salt.Still, India is a country where things emerge in the press rather than are said publically by comapnies. Makes it hard to know what's

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1120567937710051832005-07-05T13:52:00.000+01:002005-07-05T13:53:58.336+01:00

FT.com / Home UK - The factory that has mastered the ageing challengeCould be worth checking this out. The chemical industry is suffering from a demographic challenge only slightly less serious than the one the Finnish lock company suffered in this article.Its one of a series. I'll try to remember to put up the links.

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1120227814529205642005-07-01T15:23:00.000+01:002005-07-01T15:26:26.653+01:00

Matti Vanhanen Finnish PM, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider.In today's Chemical News and IntelligenceThe six-week long dispute between the Finnish paper workers’ union Pappersförbundet and employer organisation Finnish Forest Industries Federation ended Friday, and the first paper mills could restart this afternoon.The two parties settled their differences late Wednesday night,

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1120216369583946322005-07-01T12:10:00.000+01:002005-07-01T12:16:25.876+01:00

Effective 11:59pm EST June 30, 2005, INEOS entered the US/Canadian Polystyrene business through its acquisition of the BASF’s Joliet facility. The acquisition included at 14% market position, manufacture and distribution assets and 140 employees. The new business is called INEOS Styrenics.See also signs of maturity and signs of old age

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119968276434819342005-06-28T15:04:00.000+01:002005-06-28T15:17:56.490+01:00

28 June 200515:04:09I came across this on a nearby farming blog the other day... it made me wonder what the fertliser/pesticide industry version would look like....http://www.storewars.org/flash/index.html

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119602706848749442005-06-24T09:43:00.000+01:002005-11-29T16:41:55.963Z

24 June 2005 09:41:08The endgame for Basell begins... This was emailed at 9pm last night. Companies incorporated as Sarl in Luxembourg have limited reporting requirements. They need only one director, that can be a company or a person but who need not live in Luxemborg. Accounts must be filed, but they need not be audited. But they must have a deed of incorporation.Nell Acquisition S.a.r.l.

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119545597081161272005-06-23T17:52:00.000+01:002006-08-09T10:51:02.330+01:00

The European Commission could be on the verge of doing three useful things: helping the environment, helping innovation and helping the petchem industry with feedstockWe have a situation in Europe, where farmers in the Eastern part of England, in the Netherlands and Germany grow sugar beet. To ensure these people get a ‘reasonable price’ for their sugar beet the price of sugar in Europe is

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119522395838333422005-06-23T11:26:00.000+01:002005-06-23T11:26:35.843+01:00

Rooting about on the web, I came across this story. Chinese politicians are concerned that the domesetically built inorganic chemcials sector there is in danger of overheating leading to boom and bust. Experts warn of overheated chemicals sector

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119369044800410232005-06-21T16:49:00.000+01:002005-06-21T16:50:44.806+01:00

Sorry, more bad Shakespear. I do read other authors. But it struck me that the news that there is a strike underway at carbon-black maker Cabot in the US, was the third I'd heard about in the last week. Not counting the wood-burning pot-boiler in Finland. One other at Tessenderlo, Belgium a one-day stoppage, on 10 June. Another 24-hour protest at BASF's Feleuy, Belgium plant over

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1119258240964110482005-06-20T09:57:00.000+01:002005-06-22T13:56:32.156+01:00

Why do badly managed firms survive?I read the piece in a back issue of the Economist last Friday. The London School of Economics and the business consultants McKinsey think they may have found at least part of the answerI'd welcome your comments....At the time I was rattling across the West Country my way to interview someone who makes a living telling companies how to dismantle chemical plants

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1118666027383754082005-06-13T13:33:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:53:50.883+01:00

Neelie Kroes, EU Competition Commissioner, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider.After months of complaints about the high cost of energy in some European Union countries, and the lack of alternative suppliers, The Euroepean Commission has today started an investigation into the energy market . This should put pressure on French regulators in particular to properly deregulate the

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1118664123390624612005-06-13T12:54:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:53:21.626+01:00

It is standard practice for prosecutors in anti-trust cases to offer immunity to firms that blow the whistle. If this report from the Associated Press via Yahoo is right, then this could spread to other areas of corporate malfeasance. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050613/corporate_fraud.html?.v=2If it helps keep business honest, how can officers of the court like company lawyers really be against this?

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1118399862115924412005-06-10T11:20:00.000+01:002006-08-28T03:19:25.983+01:00

Chemical News and Intelligence, the subscription only online news service for the chemcials sector posted this yesterday:Titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment producer Kerr-McGee said Wednesday its chemicals subsidiary had filed an initial public offering (IPO) for as much as $300m (Euro243.9m) in Class A common stock.Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Kerr-McGee said the IPO by New-Co Chemical - an

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1118395542084483802005-06-10T10:25:00.000+01:002005-06-10T10:32:51.636+01:00

PavementArt, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider.Hats off to the Innovene viral marketers at NPRA earlier this year, but look what they could have achieved with a bit of time and money…The Artist is Julian Beever, the art looks distorted unless viewed from the right angle. See also Innovene Viral Marketing at NPRA posted 4 April 05.pip pip

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1117812298852733352005-06-03T16:16:00.000+01:002005-06-03T16:24:58.860+01:00

It is great that you come all this way several times a week, and I really do appreciate it. But there really is no need. You could be enjoying the experience without ever leaving the comfort of your desktop. If you install a news reader--and the insider uses AWASU at home (its free)-- then you can get this and all your other information needs in one place. Without turning a hair. Download your

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1117810912646434502005-06-03T15:29:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:51:01.943+01:00

The following a rather dry peer-reviewed paper has been the basis for a lot of hot air about phthalates this week http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/8100/8100.pdf. The Miami Herald for example ran a story on it summed it up as 'Study maps harm to male genetalia' https://registration.miami.com/reg/login.do?url=http://www.miami.com%2Fmld%2Fmiamiherald%2Fliving%2Fhealth%2F11751275.htm (and you

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1117529334619518182005-05-31T09:45:00.000+01:002005-05-31T10:00:12.213+01:00

As you can see, on the Truth Laid Bear ranking system, the Chemical Industry Insider is a Crunchy Crustacian. If you want to find out where that places the Insider in the Bear's heirarchy of beings, click on the link. Next goal: invade the land...

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1117036147368465252005-05-25T16:37:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:49:03.273+01:00

It's not just me that thinks the Finnish paper makers are behaving in a manner befitting a Dickensian mill owner, the Finnish Minster of justice does too, as this extract from Chemical News and Intelligence shows:LONDON (CNI)--Finland’s minister of justice Johannes Koskinen has criticised Finnish paper factory employers for their uncompromising action in declaring a lock-out of pulp and paper

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1117010565463039112005-05-25T09:32:00.000+01:002006-07-29T15:59:15.563+01:00

This appeared in Plastics News, a US publication with stong journalism and is probably right. Its enough of a coincidence to be true. By Frank EspositoPLASTICS NEWS STAFFContrary to a story that appeared on the Web site of one of India’s largest newspapers, there is no connection between President Bush’s youngest brother and one of the firms that trumped an Iranian bid to buy global

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1116601789160464182005-05-20T16:09:00.000+01:002007-01-03T02:13:45.346Z

Although the Basell negotiations were conducted at the highest level, this may have the wrong end of the stick.The Telegraph - Calcutta : Frontpage

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1116598318700341002005-05-20T15:05:00.000+01:002006-10-29T18:31:36.206Z

I took a step back yesterday when I heard about the Finnish paper makers locking out workers who have, in the past month, declined to work overtime and eventually felt moved to strike over attempt to change their working conditions. Surely jaw-jaw is better than war-war.About a third of Finnland's chemicals industry is closely tied to the forrestry industry.The lock-out will last for at least 10

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1116107277007228382005-05-14T22:28:00.000+01:002005-11-12T08:48:17.266Z

Back in the land of broadband, and I find that BASF and Shell have decided to bow to pressure from the Whitehouse and sell Basell to the Halida consortium instead of NPC of Iran. At this level decisions are politcally driven, but, thinking simply in terms of business logic this is a wasted opportunity for both of the parents.European Chemcial New's take on the deal was summed up as:Shell and BASF

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1114789898395224852005-04-29T16:50:00.000+01:002005-04-29T16:51:38.396+01:00

The Insider is on vacation. He will be back in the middle of May.

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1114621001148214632005-04-27T17:41:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:36:29.556+01:00

It had to happen, first the really important, but, low-margin, highly-cyclical commodities like soda ash, phenol went from public companies to private companies, now BASF announced it is selling its North American polystyrene operations to Ineos, the Jersey-based privately held conglomerate.After six months of wrangling the two firms have decided on an undisclosed price for the business. If

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1114506331013183432005-04-26T10:05:00.000+01:002005-04-26T10:08:04.043+01:00

Check this out, a bit of searching will reveal the renumeration or compensiation for a US Chemicals company CEO. They don't top the list by any means, but are these levels of pay right? What do you think?Forbes.com: Forbes Executive Pay

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1114420014791855622005-04-25T10:04:00.000+01:002005-04-25T10:06:54.793+01:00

Read Lucy Kellaway in today's FT (p14 in the paper or follow link on RHS of column). Good points about meetings and management.

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1114102308205787702005-04-21T17:34:00.000+01:002005-11-27T03:46:14.426Z

It is an ill-wind that blows no good, to idly misquote Shakespeare (possibly Richard III), and today’s ruling by the European Court of Justice, that Lichtenstein counts may have been greeted with peals from all the church bells in the Principality.Novartis, the Swiss chemical company which precipitated the ruling, will be several million euro out of pocket and Switzerland may wish that it had

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1113899855601967902005-04-19T09:31:00.001+01:002005-06-16T17:32:34.906+01:00

Ever wondered about misbehaviour at work, then the Insider can recommend a link.An acacemic in Scotland has decided to set up a blog about the things the staff should be doing when they're getting paid. Almost certainly worth a look if you're in HR or just considering misbehaving or taking part in some 'informal workplace behaviour'.Go on, treat yourself and click on industrial relations on in

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1113382282899269572005-04-13T09:30:00.000+01:002005-07-01T12:14:12.226+01:00

News in the German papers yesterday that you guys are wobbling about whether to sell Basell the, polyolefins joint venture to Iran's NPC, doesn't come as a surprise, what with German Competence and Anglo-Dutch Scenario Planning. Your managements are prone to examine things to death and beyond. It has to be said, this process serves you well.You might be worried about share price effects of

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1113229265792686112005-04-11T15:11:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:30:16.046+01:00

Some companies like Shell, decide that cracker plus one is the strategy of choice. Others like Innovene, the soon to be spun out company from BP Chemicals, prefer cracker plus some, since they’re only taking the olefins and derivatives businesses with them.BASF on the other hand, thinks life begins with gas and is becoming an integrated chemicals and energy company, faster than you can say ‘main

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1112898096345552882005-04-07T19:21:00.000+01:002005-06-16T17:29:26.040+01:00

The Fed's Head Honcho, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider.Sadly, the insider did not go to the NPRA meeting in San Antonio last week.Looking at the reports though, chemicals executives seem to be admitting to themselves that the good times are really just around the corner this time. It is surprising how quickly consensus develops in the industry.Two things look optimistic though:

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1112876906975029882005-04-07T13:28:00.000+01:002006-08-04T02:47:55.670+01:00

Innovene viral marketing at NPRA, originally uploaded by Chemical Industry Insider.Innovene got its high profile public awareness campagin off to an understated start at NPRA

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1111507072423839482005-03-22T15:56:00.000Z2005-06-16T17:27:38.646+01:00

Thank-you Bablefish (http://world.altavista.com/tr) for this from Serge Lepeltier, France's ecology and sustainable development minister speaking in Paris yesterday: Finally beyond of these territorial actions, it is also necessary that strong decisions are made on certain pollutants at the national level. Thus, after having to carry out a broad dialogue with the industrialists of the detergents,

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1111076614409235272005-03-17T16:23:00.000Z2005-06-16T17:20:50.916+01:00

Energy use and costs have been at the front of my mind for the past few weeks, as I guess they have large parts of the chemicals industry, and the European Commission, which I think deserves a small round of applause.There have been major problems for energy intensive users in the UK over the winter with inefficient gas futures market and spot markets leading to considerable spikes in the price

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1110818192165645972005-03-14T16:34:00.000Z2005-06-16T17:19:43.546+01:00

There is a philosophical concept: the category error. This sort of thing happens when people try to understand something new but don’t quite get it. It may also apply to some of the unanswerable questions: What is the meaning of life? What does yellow taste of?I think that you might realise that you were labouring under one just after the ‘Oh, I see’ moment when the penny drops.When it comes to

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1110539915611565522005-03-11T11:14:00.000Z2005-12-06T11:27:08.560Z

Professor Utz-Hellmuth Felcht, put his finger on it. 'Our plants are not on wheels' he told journalists in Dusseldorf earlier this week at the company's annual results press conference. Factories cannot simply be pushed across the border to cheaper locationsThe question worrying the Germans at the moment is: how long can we keep making chemicals here? The talk is of low-cost jobs and high quality

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109850589894270612005-03-03T11:49:00.000Z2005-03-03T12:00:40.953Z

CNI newsThis is what we need: a mechanism to prove to consumers just how commonplace chemicals are and, by implication how safe they are in everyday life. It is especially refreshing to hear a call for the chemical industry to provide information for consumers in a format that they can understand and digest.Hats off to Charles Laroche, president of the International Association of Soaps,

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109684546133534262005-03-01T13:33:00.000Z2005-07-01T15:42:12.150+01:00

I can remember, before the internet was invented hearing someone who made inflatable boats dismiss the threat of product liability legislation in Europe with the line: ‘we sell them in California, we’re not worried.’I’d like to think his attitude was because the company could trace each of its boats from the factory to the beach to, if the worst came to the worst, the iceberg. The company

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109341714728751342005-02-25T14:12:00.000Z2006-02-01T02:23:44.596Z

To the European Chemical Industry, pondering gloomily on what the European Commission’s Reach (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) will mean, the Green movement must seem like a monolithic mass. This view would be wrong. There are divisions and many different shades of green. There are still many, such as Frederique Ries, the European Parliament's rapporteur, who believe in

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109333085023612202005-02-25T12:04:00.000Z2005-02-25T12:04:45.026Z

There is an innovative, and some might say, elliptical, suggestion that French chemicals companies might like to invest in a new Nuclear power station to help them to avoid the difficulties of high energy prices.Needless to say the idea appears to come from politicians. Not from people on the ground. France definitely dragged its feet on the road to energy de-regulation. The system adopted,

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109327868359344242005-02-25T10:37:00.000Z2005-02-28T09:15:57.096Z

Daily Notebook�:�23-02-2005Now Here’s a funny a funny thing, here is a funny thing, as sharp-suited UK comedian Max Miller used to say.Both Cefic, the European Trade Group which represents the Chemicals industry inside the EU, and Greenpeace are united (almost) on one aspect of the recent report on the European Commission's Environment & Health Action Plan 2004-2010.They agree that it was wrong

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109077124081981462005-02-22T12:52:00.000Z2005-02-22T15:20:02.600Z

You can't fault the American Chemical Industry when it comes to looking at the world and spotting things it doesn't like, such as competition from overseas.This last week we've seen a congresswoman from Wyoming (Barbara Cubin, a Republican) and a senator from the same state (Craig Thomas, also a Republican) pressing for the kind of protectionist advantages in their home-state that would be ruled

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10982525.post-1109000212480401422005-02-21T15:34:00.000Z2005-02-21T15:36:52.483Z

Those who know (or think they do) don't believe Ineos is in with a snowflakes chance in Hades of getting Basell. That's a polyethylene joint venture between a large clam and a venerable (and wealthy) German. The front runner's got to be National Petrochemical Company of Iran. Iran makes it difficult to do a deal, but look at all the gas sitting there, look at the implicit state backing from the

Biofuelsimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16227140278265798586noreply@blogger.com