New Chemicals Anti-Dumping from Indian Government

The Indian government has imposed an anti-dumping duty policy which will be affecting chemical products used for toys manufacturing and adhesives with anti-dumping values of as much as US$608.57 per tonne.

The radical step was taken in a combat to safeguard the local industry against cheap imports from seven countries, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia,Taiwan, China and Thailand claimed the Indian Government.

Anti-dumping is seen to protect the local producers which is an endorsed tool by WTO (World Trade Organization). India has seen an increased to 19,020 tonnes in 2008-09 from 3,636 tonnes in 2005-06 from the effected seven nations.

Solutia to Set up Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) Plant in Malaysia

Solutia Inc has announced that it plans to set up a new polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plant in Malaysia worth US$ 40 million. The plant will be set-up in Gebeng Industrial Park in Malaysia's Eastern Peninsular on a 20 hectare site.

The new PVB plant will be able to produce up to 15 kmta of PVB in capacity by 2012 which can be used toproduce laminated glass, window films and conductive films in solar panels.

Qatar Engineer Designed Natural Cooling Palm

A Qatari engineer has designed the world's first Cooling Palm which has a structure like a palm trees with 40m high and able to cool the surrounding temperature to as low as 25 degC from a 40 degC high temperature which is common in Qatar.

The cooling palm does this by reducing the humidity of the air and converts the moisture to water. An industrial fog valve system then convert the water to cold fog and significantly reducing the surrounding temperature.

The environmental friendly cooling palm device does not consume energy other than using solar power. The application is said to be used in pedestrian streets at hot climate which also serves as beautification through its palm tree like looking.

Shell Selling Assets in African Countries

Shell is reportedly in exclusive negotiations with Vitol Group for its African investments. The acquisition of Shell Oil Products Africa (Shell) downstream businesses is currently at a stage of final price and subject to regulatory requirements.

Vitol is likely to close the deal with Helios Investment Partners for a share of Shell's Retail, Commercial Fuels, Lubricants, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Bitumen, Aviation and Marine.

Confirmed countries in the list are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, , Namibia and La Reunion.

This will include 1300 retail sites including a massive 1,200,000 cubic metres of terminal storage. Shell is currently employing 2500 staff in Africa. Although it is still in discussion stage, Shell is likely to retain portion of shares in the business including it's brand name.

The exercise is seen as Shell's risk divestment strategy that has been as part of the company strategic direction.

Global Warming May Hinder Petrochemical Outlook

Asian industry leaders are skeptical on the petrochemical outlook in the near future from increase pressure of environmental concern in particular global warming. Japan Petrochemical Industry Association (JPCA) chairman, Kenji Fujiyoshi was urging the industry players to re-look at energy effectiveness and improvement via reusable energy.

Two identified areas are methods for naphtha cracking, where major petrochemical feedstocks are coming from as well as fossil fuels substitutes. Currently there has been a few successful direct alternatives of petrochemical products that using 100% alternative feedstock other than fossil fuels.

It is expected that the trend will continue to grow in 2010, coming mostly from already popular agriculture products such as corns and palm oils. Other growing technologies include bio-glycerol such as ones for propylene oxide production.

Bahrain to Boost Oil to 100,000 BPD and Supplying to Saudi Arabia

H.E. Dr Abdul-Hussain Ali Mirza, Minister of Oil & Gas Affairs, Bahrain has indicated that Bahrain is planning to bring oil output to about 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) from its current 32,000 bpd. The excess supply is reportedly will be sold to Saudi Arabia via pipeline expansion.

Currently Bahrain is exporting 230,000 bpd of oil to Saudi Arabia. With the expansion of the pipeline, it will be capable to supply up to 350,000 bpd.

Biodiesel Producers Looking at Power Plant

Biodiesel players are currently looking at ways of expanding businesses and usage of edible oils. One such company is Desmet Ballestra who is currently looking at acquiring technologies to use ethanol and biomass for power plants.

The move is seen as complimenting the biodiesel industry which has seen big impacts due to food commodities surge in the past years.

Korean Company Bought Malaysian's Titan Chemicals

Titan Chemicals which is one of major petrochemical players in Malaysia has agreed to sell its stake to Honam Petrochemical, a Korean petrochemical player. The deal is said to be all in cash term amounting to 1.5 trillion won or $ 1.26 billion.

Upon completion of the deal, Honam Petrochemical will have total control and sole owner of Titan Chemicals. Titan Chemicals has previously been in financial difficulties and was looking for exit. The deal is widely expected following their current finance standings.

New Breakthrough in Solar Power with 66 % Efficiency

A new breakthrough in solar power brings new hope to increase energy efficiency of solar panel and consequently a wider commercial use of the technology. Researchers from the University of Texas in Austin and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis have discovered a process that can increase the conversion efficiency of solar cells up to 66%.

Current solar panels generate hot electrons and lose the energy through heat before it can be captured and used for electricity. In contrast, the new technology is able to slow down the cooling process of hot electrons increasing the energy that is currently lost as heat in conventional solar cells.

A demonstration site is currently under way at University's Houston Campus with demonstration project to be constructed in Brookshire City, Texas by Evolution Solar.

Shell & Petronas Preparing Award for Iraq Oil Wells

Shell and Petronas are in the process of awarding a deal to drill new oil wells at Iraq's super giant Majnoon oil field which will include engineering, procurement and construction deal to build various production installations at the field.

Potential firms in the bidding lists are reportedly Halliburton, Weatherford International, and Petrofac which will be responsible to develop Majnoon to175,000 barrels a day by 2012.

The oil field is owned by Shell of 45%, Petronas 30%, and Iraq's state-run Missan Oil holding 25%.

Singapore Building Facility for LNG Import from Qatar

Singapore is building new import facility for liquified natural gas on Jurong Island which will receive LNG from Qatar in the country's plans to diversify its gas supply. The facility costs $1.5 billion is due to be completed in 2013 to store more than six million tonnes per annum.

Singapore currently depends on the piped LNG from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Singapore's Prime Minister is replying in response to Indonesian announcement of increasing the supply price.

The partnership with Qatar, the world's biggest natural gas producer is expected after Qatar Petroleum International bought into Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore last November.