GLG News by Council Members Knowledgeable on Chemical Catalysts

European nations have used taxes and tolls to 'optimize' truck freight tonnage and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.  With an aggressive environmental agenda the new US government may seek to harmonize domestic standards with the Europeans. 

Capacity shutdowns by Dow and BASF will pressure smaller players to rationalize their own operations.  If liquidity is insufficient to weather an extended downturn consolidation of global capacity is likely; voluntary or not. 

Australia has taken coal serious by passing the Australian Offshore Petroleum Amendment Bill, regulating carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS).  Australian Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) has fought for this bill in order to protect the property rights of existing petroleum...

Oil & Gas Journal reports that Gazprom plans to form a joint venture with Qatar Liquefied Gas Co.,Ltd. and the National Iranian Oil Co. for gas production in the Iranian South Paris field and liquefy the gas in Qatar at the Las Raffan site.  The gas would be piped from Iran across the Persian...

The grandiose Nord Stream pipe line project, connecting Russia via two Baltic underwater pipe lines with Germany has been delayed due to increased construction costs, lack of sufficient gas capacity and lack of financing.  Of course, Putin will not admit any Russian problems but puts the blame...

Chesapeake Energy, the largest US unconventional natural gas producer, has sold 32.5% of its shale gas ("SG") assets in the Marcellus shale region in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York.  Statoil has agreed to pay $3.38 billion.  $1.25 billion would be in cash and $2.125 billion is to...

Falling oil prices have not led to price relief from major chemical and plastics producers.  Consumers will continue to see higher prices on everyday goods from diapers to toothpaste and toilet paper.

Heavy Duty diesel truck engines must meet stringent EPA NOx emissions standards in 2010.  Solutions include SCR catalysts and/or high EGR rates.  The tradeoffs in performance and fuel economy may define market share among the major engine makers.

Cheaper crude oil means less attractive returns for alternative fuels producers.  Coupled with collapsing capital and credit markets further expansion of renewable fuels capacity is in doubt.

Three years ago a former Chairman of an American OEM automotive company told me  that the problem with GM, Ford, and Chrysler was that they all believed originally that the Japanese would never learn how to make cars that Americans would buy, and, then, after that turned out to be false they simply...