GDP UPDATE HEADLINES
January 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMERICAS
ASIA
EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST
AMERICAS
Cuba
Alfonso Morre has spent nine years studying mechanics and civil engineering in
order to become — a Havana taxi driver. Following President Barack Obama’s
decision to ease the embargo on Cuba, he is hoping for something better.
Driving a 26-year-old Russian-made Lada through the cobbled streets of Cuba’s
capital, Morre says he needs his engineering degree just to keep the car on the
road. That may be about to change.
“Hopefully, once the U.S. trade opens up, companies will come here looking for
engineers,” Morre, 33, said. “Once the new cars and spare parts start coming in,
you won’t need to be an engineer to run a taxi here.”
Morre is one of the army of university-educated Cubans stuck in manual jobs such
as hotel laundry or waiting tables. Their skills will be a big draw for
companies looking for investment opportunities in the island should the U.S.
agree to end the trade embargo that started in 1961, said Philip Brenner, a
professor of international relations at American University in Washington.
“The Cuban development model is going to be based on high value-added production
by an educated population,” Brenner said. “No one in Cuba is talking about a
future scenario of making baseballs in sweatshops. They have people who would be
adept in pharmaceuticals, computer engineering and advanced mechanical
machinery.”
Cuba’s economic growth has slowed to 1.3% this year, almost half the official
target and down from 2.7% in 2013, according to government data.
Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced the plans to re-establish
diplomatic ties, release some prisoners and work to ease a five-decade old
embargo on Dec. 17.
Laundry lady Lucila Gomez, 62, hopes the move will lead to the re-opening of the
pajama factory she used to supervise in Havana. After getting a degree at Moscow
State Textile University and working in Bulgaria, Gomez now irons tourist shirts
in the Havana Libre hotel.
“Hopefully I won’t have to end my career doing laundry,” she said.
Decades of Soviet investment in Cuba’s education system have brought universal
literacy to the island, with about 100,000 people trained at Russian and
Ukrainian universities out of a population of 11.3 million.
Eighty percent of college-aged Cubans were enrolled in post-secondary education
in 2011, the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean, compared with 75% in
Argentina, 71% in Chile and 29% for Mexico, according to the United Nations.
There is a special focus on hard sciences like medicine and engineering, an
investment in human capital that has helped the country stay afloat since the
end of subsidies from the Soviet Union. About 30,000 Cuban doctors work in
Venezuela to help pay for the approximately 100,000 barrels a day of oil the
South American country supplied to Cuba in 2013.
In the central province of Cienfuegos, Brazilian contractor Helio Piza is
supervising 60 Cuban workers running a 30-year-old sugar plant without any spare
parts.
“The level of academic preparation here is very high,” Piza said in an interview
in his office in the Fifth of September plant on Dec. 29. “Education allows
Cubans to be ingenious with the little they have available.”…
(The remaining text is not included in this sample.)
ASIA
Singapore
The city-state’s economy expanded less than economists’ estimated last quarter
after its manufacturing industry weakened with slowing growth in China and an
uneven global recovery.
Gross domestic product rose an annualized 1.6% in the three months to Dec 31
from the previous quarter, when it expanded 3.1%, the trade ministry said in a
statement. The median of five estimates in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 3%
expansion.
Singapore's productivity growth has been weak, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
said on Dec 31, and the trade ministry has said the economic outlook for 2015 is
"modest" with a tight labor market restraining some industries. The
export-dependent island is also adjusting to a China on track to record its
weakest full-year growth in almost a quarter century, even as the US saw its
biggest expansion in more than a decade in the third quarter.
"It caps a pretty moderate year for growth," said Michael Wan, a Singapore-based
economist at Credit Suisse Group AG, who predicts the Southeast Asian nation
will expand 3.5% in 2015. "China's slowing, Japan's pretty moribund, Europe's
still essentially going nowhere," with only the U.S. providing some relief in
the global economy…(The remaining text is not included in this sample.)
EUROPE / AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has overtaken France to become the fifth largest economy in
the world after the money made from prostitution and drugs was counted in the
GDP figure for the first time.
Britain's economy is expected to be worth a total £1.86trillion in 2014 - up
from £1.63trillion the previous year - compared to £1.82trillion in France, new
calculations reveal.
Government figures show that prostitution added about £4.3billion to the economy
while illegal drugs provided a roughly £6.7billion boost.
The darker corners of the economy are now being counted - alongside traditional
sectors such as farming and financial services - as part of an overhaul in the
way economic activity is measured
This year is the first time that the GDP - an economic estimate produced every
three months by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - has included the
money made from illegal drugs and sex work.
The change, which was introduced as part of EU rules implemented earlier this
year, means that a booming sex trade or an expansion in the market for illegal
drugs can boost the Chancellor's outlook.
These more inclusive figures edged the nation ahead of France in world rankings
when they were used in calculations of the size of the UK's economy…(The
remaining text is not included in this sample.)
A complete analysis of GDP and monthly updates for individual countries are
included as part of the Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World
Market
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OIL & GAS SALES LEADS HEADLINES
January 19, 2015
Oil and Gas Project Tracking
is available at a discount to Water & Wastewater Treatment Chemicals World
Market subscribers.
Treatment chemicals are an important addition to most oil and gas processes.
Access to details on the worldwide oil and gas projects is provided at a
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(Listed by most current date)
Canadian Natural Resources Defers Kirby Oil Sands Thermal Project
Revision Date: 1/19/2015
In Situ Oilsands Production Reaches Record High in October
Revision Date: 1/16/2015
Oil's Plunge Threatens Suncor's Fort Hills Development
Revision Date: 1/16/2015
Canada’s Oil-Sands Operators Dig in for Long Haul as Oil Prices Go Below $50
Revision Date: 1/16/2015
ICA Fluor to Build Delayed Coker at Pemex Hidalgo Refinery
Revision Date: 1/16/2015
The Other Oil Sands Fight in Utah with Possible Solution to Lower Environmental
Impact
Revision Date: 1/16/2015
New Alberta Oil Sands $1.3 Bln Contract Awarded to Fluor Corp
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
Oilsands Lead not seeping into Rivers According to University of Alberta Lab
Tests
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
Canada’s Oil Sands Industry Goes on Offensive after Facing Escalating Pushback
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
Oilsands Tailings Ponds Emit Pollutants into the Air, Study Confirms
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
Emerson Awarded $27 Mln Contract to Automate Long Lake Oil Sands Project
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
EU Vote Puts Canadian Tar Sands Label Back on the Agenda
Revision Date: 1/15/2015
Kearl Oilsands Project to Suspend Output for Several Weeks after Malfunction
Revision Date: 1/14/2015
Canada Sticks to its Line on the Oil Sands at UN Climate Summit
Revision Date: 1/14/2015
Canada’s Oil Sands Producers Promise Steps to Cut Pollution
Revision Date: 1/14/2015
Cenovus Gets Approval for Alberta Telephone Lake Oil Sands Project
Revision Date: 1/14/2015
ICA Fluor Awarded Fabrication Contract for Shell's Carmon Creek Heavy Oil
Extraction Project
Revision Date: 1/14/2015
Iran to Inaugurate Petrochemical Plant in Its Northwest
Revision Date: 1/13/2015
Saudi Arabia to Invest $91 Bln to Spur Petrochemical Industry
Revision Date: 1/13/2015
BMI Report Says Malaysia Petrochemicals Capacity to Undergo Major Increase
Revision Date: 1/13/2015
Report Says Iran to Triple Petrochemical Production to 180Mln Tons by 2022
Revision Date: 1/12/2015
Petki to Float Paraxylene Tenders in January after 6 Months Gap
Revision Date: 1/12/2015
Iran to Resume Exporting Petrochemicals after U.S. Ban
Revision Date: 1/12/2015
Propylene Unit Reaches Capacity in Russia due to UOP C3 Oleflex™ Process
Technology
Revision Date: 1/12/2015
Alfa Laval Wins Heat Exchanger Order for South Korea Petrochemical Plant
Revision Date: 1/12/2015
U.S. Chemical Industry Set to Outpace Overall Economic Growth
Revision Date: 1/9/2015
Chevron Phillips Completes Sweeny Ethylene Expansion
Revision Date: 1/9/2015
China Commissions UOP C3 Oleflex™ Process Technology for Propylene Unit
Revision Date: 1/8/2015
Sasol Announces Financing Milestone for Louisiana Project
Revision Date: 1/8/2015
Japan to Shut Four Naphtha Crackers for 2015 Turnaround
Revision Date: 1/8/2015
Vietnam to Grant License for $22 Bln Refinery, Petchem Complex Early in 2015
Revision Date: 1/8/2015
Versalis Inks Agreement to Transfer Sarroch Plants in Sardinia to Sarlux
Revision Date: 1/7/2015
Etileno XXI Plant Could Revive Mexico's Petrochemical Sector
Revision Date: 1/7/2015
Asia Key Driver in Qatar Petrochemicals Expansion
Revision Date: 1/7/2015
India's BPCL to Invest Over $741 Mln in Petrochemicals Business
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Linde Installs Gasifier Vessel at Texas Facility
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Ineos, Sasol Break Ground on Texas HDPE Project
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Weatherford Sells Chemicals, Drilling Fluids Units to Lubrizol for $750 Mln
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
German Chemicals Sector Sees 1.5 Pct Sales Growth in '14 and '15
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Chevron Phillips Says Petchem Industry Should Enhance Connectivity with Social
Media
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Saudi's Yansab to Shut Ethylene Glycol Plant in April for Maintenance
Revision Date: 1/6/2015
Westlake Chemical to Add Ethylene Capacity in Lake Charles
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Saudi's SABIC, Shell Shelve Petchem Plant Expansion in Jubail
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Dow Chemicals to Cut $1 Bln in Costs Over 3 Years
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
North Dakota Group, Badlands NGL Plans $4 Bln Chemical Plant
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Chemtura Expands Antioxidant Capacity for Auto Industry Demand Growth
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
U.S. Manufacturing Exports Surging due to Shale Gas
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Ineos Plans $1 Bln Investment in UK Shale Gas Exploration
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Sasol Gives Go-ahead to $8.1 Bln U.S. Ethane Cracker
Revision Date: 1/5/2015
Louisiana Ethane Cracker Project Goes to Fluor-Technip JV
Revision Date: 1/4/2015
Petchems Are Benefiting from Cheap Feedstocks
Revision Date: 1/4/2015
Gulf Coast Growth Spurs Demand for Cleaning, Environmental Services - Revision
Date: 1/4/2015
Williams Partners Louisiana Plant Should Start Producing Ethylene in November
Revision Date: 1/3/2015
Catalytic Processes Could Yield Alternatives to Refineries, Ethane Crackers
Revision Date: 1/3/2015
European Petchem Group's Re-branding: More Than a New Name
Revision Date: 1/3/2015
BG Group’s Queensland Curtis LNG Second Train on Track
Revision Date: 1/2/2015
Bechtel Completes Milestone Module Program for Curtis Island LNG Projects
Revision Date: 1/2/2015
BG Group Loads First Coal-seam-gas to LNG Cargo from QCLNG Project in Australia
Revision Date: 1/2/2015
Venture Global LNG Announces Calcasieu Pass Export Facility in Southwestern
Louisiana
Revision Date: 1/2/2015
Freeport LNG Closes Financing, Begins Construction of Initial Two Liquefaction
Trains
Revision Date: 1/1/2015
LNG Canada Selects GE Oil & Gas LMS100 Gas Turbine-Compressor Technology for
Proposed Kitmat Facility - Revision Date:
1/1/2015
Canadian Aboriginal Group Signs $5.3 Mln Deal to Support LNG Pipeline
Revision Date: 1/1/2015
Eni Signs Small-scale LNG Deal with Skangass
Revision Date: 1/1/2015
Santos Reassures on Costs at $18.5 Bln Gladstone LNG Project
Revision Date: 1/1/2015
Freeport LNG Receives Final FERC and DOE Approvals
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Receives Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
5th and final installment: Exclusive Platts Series on China’s Shandong “Teapot”
Oil Refineries
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
Air Products to Work with Technip on Inner Mongolia LNG Project
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
Dominion Begins Construction Activities for Cove Point LNG Export Project
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
Applied LNG Announces Midlothian LNG Plant Groundbreaking
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
British Columbia Approves $11 Bln Petronas LNG Project, Two Gas Pipelines
Revision Date: 12/31/2014
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CHEMICAL UPDATE HEADLINES
December 2014
INDUSTRY NEWS
COMPANY NEWS
MERGERS/ ACQUISITIONS
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WORLD MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
UPDATE HEADLINES
January 2015
This monthly update is devoted to wastewater infrastructure news around the
world, outside of the United States and Canada, and is meant to complement
McIlvaine's Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals: World Market
Update.
Table of Contents
AFRICA
ASIA
CIS
EUROPE
LATIN AMERICA
MIDDLE EAST
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INDUSTRIAL EMITTERS UPDATE HEADLINES
January 2015
Table of Contents
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