Tata Chemicals: Q1 FY2006 PAT increases by 42% to Rs 65 crore, basic EPS: Rs 3.02

Tata Chemicals Limited, a leading manufacturer of chemicals, fertilisers and food additives, has announced its audited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

Commenting on the Company's performance for Q1 FY2006, Prasad Menon, Managing Director, Tata Chemicals, said, "I am delighted to announce strong operating and financial performance for the quarter under review.

"In the chemicals segment, improved realisations from all our products facilitated by earlier announced price increases have improved our profitability.

"While supply of phosphoric acid has stabilised as a result of the IMACID partnership, we moderated our phosphatic fertilisers sales due to the delay in the monsoon. However, delays in the announcement of phosphoric acid prices as well as expected tight supplies of rock phosphate in the foreseeable future continue to be causes for concern.

Urea sales volumes were especially strong and this was the first complete quarter when our Babrala facility plant operated without any usage of naphtha.

"I believe with its continued focus on enhancing customer relationships and controlling input costs Tata Chemicals is optimally positioned to take advantage of the healthy demand environment and sustain its growth momentum "

Performance summary
Q1 FY2006 (April - June 2005) v/s Q1 FY2005 (April - June 2004)

	Income from operations (net of excise) at Rs 510 crore compared to Rs 520 crore. This was the first complete financial quarter that the Company did not use naphtha as a fuel in the manufacture of urea. As a result there was no price escalation component in the income from operations.
	Profit from operations improves 9 per cent to Rs 122 crore from Rs 111 crore. Improved realisations from the chemicals segment on the back of price increases announced in previous year.
	PBIT of the chemicals business amounted to Rs 74 crore up by 30 per cent from Rs 57 crore.
	PBIT of the fertiliser business was Rs 27 crore, compared to Rs 32 crore.
	PBT amounted to Rs 96 crore, up by 32 per cent in Q1 FY2006 compared to Rs 72 crore in Q1 FY2005. Improvement in PBT also attributable to increase in tax refunds and reduction in interest costs.
	PAT increased 42 per cent to Rs 65 crore compared with Rs 46 crore in Q1 FY2005.
	Basic EPS (for the quarter): Rs 3.02
	Diluted EPS: Rs 2.71

Segmental performance

Chemicals

Soda ash

	Amongst domestic manufacturers, Tata Chemicals' marketshare stood at 32.4 per cent, remaining the largest player in the Indian soda ash segment. On an overall market basis (including imports), the Company's marketshare was 30 per cent.
	Sale contracts initiated with effect from the ongoing fiscal, incorporated the increased prices (by approximately Rs 500 per tonne effected in November 2004), enabling increased contributions from soda ash sales.
	Production of soda ash during the quarter under review amounted to 160,530 tonnes translating to a capacity utilisation of 73 per cent. Production volumes were lower during the quarter due to a planned plant maintenance shut down, which lasted for around two weeks.
	Sales of dense soda ash to the fast growing glass segment, improved by 10 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year. During the quarter, Tata Chemicals sold 150,000 tonnes of which 32 per cent was dense ash.
	Prices of soda ash, especially in North America and Europe remained firm resulting in reduced imports into the country. Capacity expansions have however resulted in marginal lowering of prices by Chinese manufacturers.

Food additives

	Tata Salt's dominance of the domestic market continued with the brand's marketshare standing at 37 per cent in the first two months of the quarter.
	The quarter ended June 30, 2005 was the first wherein Tata Salt was sold at the increased price levels of Rs 9.25 per kg.
	The Tata Salt advertising series was awarded the Best Advertisement campaign for June 2005, by the Economic Times Brand Equity Ad Monitor Track.
	During the quarter, the Company commenced exports to the Middle East with an initial shipment effected to the UAE

STPP

	Sales volumes of sodium tri poly phosphate (STPP) improved by 11 per cent over the last year
	Lower production volumes though, as a result of the implementation of the plant expansion programme and limited raw material availability, resulted in an increase in imports and a reduction in the Company's overall marketshare.
	Chinese STPP prices have softened over the last two months.

Cement

Cement sales remained healthy during the quarter.

Fertilisers

Nitrogenous (urea)

	Improved rainfall towards the end of June 2005 contributed to higher urea sales. Sales volumes for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 were higher by 23 per cent quarter-on-quarter at 201,000 tonnes.
	Tata Chemicals remains the most energy efficient player in the industry with an energy consumption of 5.2 G Cal/ MT urea.
	The quarter under review was the first in recent times where complete production was without any naphtha usage. This was achieved through the combined use of APM, RLNG and PMT gas.
	The Babrala manufacturing facility was awarded the Golden Peacock Environment Management Award for the year 2005 and the Greentech Safety Gold Award for the year 2004-05 in the chemical sector

Phosphatics (NPK, SSP, di ammonium phosphate)

	DAP, NPK and complex fertiliser sales volumes were at lower levels during the quarter under review due to the delayed monsoon which resulted in lower consumption.
	Phosphoric acid supplies, however, have stabilised as a result of the sourcing agreement with Indo Maroc Phosphore S.A. (IMACID), Morocco, ensuring continued production.
	Nevertheless, delays in the settlement of phosphoric acid prices and expected tight supply of rock phosphate and phosphoric acid in the foreseeable future are a challenge.

Financial management

	Interest costs in line with the Company's focused debt restructuring programme amounted to Rs 1.94 crore in Q1 FY2006, a 73 per cent decline compared to the corresponding quarter last year.
	Total debt as on June 30, 2005 stood at Rs 1,246 crore. The debt includes a balance amount of approximately Rs 500 crore availed via the Company's Foreign Currency Commercial borrowing
	Debt comprises short-term buyers credit amounting to around Rs 459 crore, the tenor for which is around six months

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20050721.htm

Tata Chemicals introduces Indias first free flowing table Topp Salt dispenser

Tata Chemicals, the pioneers and leaders of branded iodized salt, has introduced India’s first free flowing table top salt dispenser. Packed in a classy see-through bottle Tata Topp Salt Sprinkler is specially designed to avoid problems like top clogging and moisture seeping in the bottle.

Topp Salt Sprinkler promises to make the use of tabletop salt more convenient and also adds a touch of class to tabletop salt usage. Backed by a strong aesthetic appeal and the functional benefits of a sprinkler, Topp Salt Sprinkler promises to be a boon for the consumers.

Tata Topp Salt Sprinkler is available in a pack of 100 grams, priced at Rs 10. It is available across cities like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.

“In the Indian households, the name of salt is synonymous with Tata Salt. Being one of India’s most respected brands, Topp Salt Dispenser is the latest addition from the house of Tata’s. A premium product that is both aesthetically appealing and functionally sound, we are confident that Topp Salt Sprinkler will become very popular among the consumers.” says Satish Sohoni, chief operating officer, food additives business, Tata Chemicals.

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20050804.htm

Tata Chemicals Vhali wins the Green Governance Award

Tata Chemicals has won the Green Governance Award 2005 for its project — Conservation of the Whale Shark. The award will be given by Dr Manmohan Singh, prime minister of India on November 10, 2005 at a ceremony in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

The Green Governance Awards have been instituted by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in order to provide impetus to sustainable development and to encourage environmental protection initiatives. The purpose of the award is to recognise and appreciate an organisation's efforts beyond meeting statutory compliance for protection and conservation of the environment. There were 28 participants in three categories: Conservation and restoration of habitat, conservation of flora and conservation of fauna.

Tata Chemicals won the award in the category — Conservation of Fauna. Tata Chemicals started work on this Whale Shark Conservation project in September 2003, and has used unique and innovative conservation intervention techniques that has brought about positive results in terms of popularising and ensuring the long-term survival of the whale shark — the largest fish on this planet. The approach involved all stakeholders in the whale shark's universe, including the whale shark hunters, boatmen, coastal communities, the forest department, the coast guard, school children and conservation NGOs. The project succeeded in creating an emotional bond between the coastal communities and the whale shark, through interpretation of Indian traditions. Tata Chemicals partnered with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO of international repute in this project. The project won international acclaim at the Whale Shark Conservation Conference at Perth, Australia in May 2005, where experts noted that the approach deployed by Tata Chemicals and WTI is a role model for other developing nations where traditional values are strong.

The pre-requisite for this award is for the organisation to have robust environment management systems, that include recycle / reuse of effluents, environmental quality monitoring and management, use of clean technology, emergency preparedness, energy conservation techniques, and training of employees in environmental protection, and conservation of biodiversity.

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20051011.htm

Tata Chemicals Q2 FY06 PAT increases 44 per cent to Rs 126 crore

Tata Chemicals Limited, a leading manufacturer of chemicals, fertilisers and food additives, has announced its audited financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2005. The company is one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic soda ash in the world, enjoys leadership in the Indian edible salt market and is the most efficient manufacturer of urea in the country.

Commenting on the company’s performance for Q2 and H1 FY2006, Prasad Menon, Managing Director, Tata Chemicals, said, "Our strong business performance is a result of enhanced sales volumes, improved price realisations and a concerted thrust on control of prices of various inputs as well as sales and distribution costs. The external environment is becoming increasingly conducive with encouraging demand growth especially in the chemicals business. Concerns however remain with regard to the settlement of phosphoric acid prices. I believe our focus on identifying viable organic and inorganic opportunities will further accelerate growth and strengthen our competitive position."

Performance summary
H1 FY2006 (April-September 2005) v/s H1 FY2005 (April-September 2004)
Income from operations (net of excise) at Rs 1,506 crore compared Rs 1,249 crore.


Profit from operations improves 22 per cent to Rs 308 crore from Rs. 252 crore.

* Healthy performance of chemicals business drives profitability. PBIT margins of the segment strengthen to 27 per cent compared with 21 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

Profit before tax (PBT) stood at Rs 278 crore, up 39 per cent in H1 FY2006 compared to Rs 200 crore in H1 FY2005.
Profit after tax (PAT) up 43 per cent at Rs 191 crore compared with Rs 133 crore in H1 FY2005.
Basic EPS (for the period): Rs 8.87.
Diluted EPS (for the period) : Rs 7.94.

Q2 FY2006 (July-September 2005) v/s Q2 FY2005 (July-September 2004)
Income from operations (net of excise) up 37 per cent at Rs. 997 crore compared to Rs 729 crore.
Profit from operations improves 32 per cent to Rs 186 crore from Rs 140 crore.
PBIT of the fertiliser business was Rs 82 crore, compared to Rs 62 crore.
PBT amounted to Rs 183 crore, up 44 per cent in Q2 FY2006 compared to Rs 127 crore in Q2 FY2005.
PAT increased 44 per cent to Rs 126 crore compared to Rs 87 crore in Q2 FY2005.
Basic EPS (for the quarter): Rs 5.85.
Diluted EPS (for the quarter): Rs 5.23.


Segmental performance

Chemicals
Soda ash
Performance perspective
Tata Chemicals maintained its dominance in the Indian soda ash segment with a domestic marketshare of 33.7 per cent for the last six months under review. On an overall market basis (including imports), the company’s marketshare was 31.9 per cent.
Domestic demand for soda ash showed good traction, growing at 4.3 per cent YOY. Tata Chemicals’ sales volumes increased 12.3 per cent over the corresponding six months in the preceding year.


Soda ash sales volumes for the quarter stood at 172,000 MT taking sales volumes for the year to date to 322,000 MT.

* Dense soda ash comprised 40 per cent of total sales.
* Export volumes for the half year stood at 44,000 MT (24,000 MT for the quarter).

Production for the half year under review amounted to 345,000 MT (185,000 MT for the quarter) translating to a capacity utilisation of 88 per cent.

Organic initiatives

In September 2005, Tata Chemicals expanded its dense soda ash manufacturing capacity to include a 600 tonne per day unit. This translates to a 70 per cent increase in the company’s dense soda ash capacity.

* Dense soda ash is used to manufacture float glass which is used in the construction, automobile, electronic (television and plasma screens) and mobile telephone (display panel) industries. The demand from the float glass segment is estimated to be growing at over 9 per cent, with China, India and the US being the largest manufacturers.
* Construction was completed in a record time at a cost of Rs 32 crore.
* The unit has been commissioned based on mono hydrate technology, which ensures that the company is able to meet with the stringent quality requirements of the leading float glass manufacturers both globally and in India.

Industry perspective

* Prices of soda ash, especially in North America and Europe remained firm resulting in reduced imports into the country. These are expected to sustain in the near to medium term on the back of strong demand.
* Higher international prices combined with enhanced efficiencies of India players has resulted in a significant 31 per cent decline in import volumes.
* Prices of coke and coal remained firm but steady during the six months under review.
* On October 1, 2005, prices of soda ash were increased by an average of Rs 400 pmt.

Food additives
Tata Salt’s dominance of the domestic market continued with the brand’s marketshare standing at 35.5 per cent (for the months of July and August 2005).


The company also launched a new brand Topp iodised salt in the Sultanate of Oman and Singapore.

* Topp is being marketed in the West Asian region, including the United Arab Emirates and Oman by Tata West Asia FZE, a Tata Group company based in Dubai.
* Tata West Asia has appointed Naranjee Hirjee & Co. LLC as its sole distributor for the Topp iodised salt in the Sultanate. Naranjee Hirjee, a 100-year-old organisation, is one of the leading FMCG distribution companies in Oman.
* Topp iodised salt is available in two formats — a smart and convenient dispenser pack of 750gm and an economical refill pack of 1kg. It retails at all leading hyper / supermarkets and other retail outlet

STPP
Prices which had weakened during the quarter are showing signs of firming up going forward.

Cement
Cement sales remained healthy during the review period.

Fertilisers
Nitrogenous (urea)

* A good monsoon contributed to healthy urea demand during the Kharif season. Sales volumes for H1 FY205-06 stood at 508,000 MT (307,000 MT for the quarter).
* Tata Chemicals remains the most energy efficient player in the industry with an energy consumption of 5.13 G Cal/ MT urea.
* Production in the quarter was completed with minimal naphtha usage necessitated due to the fire at Bombay High. A considerable proportion of the production was achieved through the combined use of APM, RLNG and PMT gas. Production volumes for the six months ended September 30, 2005 stood at 267,600 MT.

Phosphatics (NPK, SSP, di-ammonium phosphate)

* DAP, NPK and complex fertiliser sales volumes were healthy during the quarter on the back of normal to excess rainfall in most of the core command areas.
* Sales in H1 FY2005-06 stood at 323,000 MT (272,000 MT for the quarter) of which 53 per cent was made up of higher margin NPKs and complex crop specific fertilisers.
* Production during H1 FY2005-06 amounted to 373,000 MT (207,000 in Q2 FY06) of which 57 per cent comprised NPK and complex fertilisers. Supplies of phosphoric acid through the company’s partnership with Imacid ensured continuity of production.
* Delays in the settlement of phosphoric acid prices and expected tight supply of rock phosphate and phosphoric acid in the foreseeable future, however continue to be a challenge.

Financial management

* Interest costs in line with the company’s focused debt restructuring programme amounted to Rs 3.6 crore in Q2 FY2006 and Rs 5.5 crore in H1 FY2006, a decline of 40 per cent and 58 per cent respectively compared to corresponding periods last year.
* Total debt as on September 30, 2005 stood at Rs 1324 crore. The debt includes an amount of approximately Rs 660 crore availed via the company’s Foreign Currency Commercial borrowing.
* Debt comprises short-term buyers credit amounting to around Rs 585 crore, the tenor for which is around six months.



http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20051025.htm

Tata Chemicals bags 12 ABCI National awards

Tata Chemicals (TCL) bagged 12 awards at the recently held 45th ABCI (Association of Business Communicators of India) annual awards ceremony at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai.

TCL corporate communications team won five golds, six silvers and one bronze in categories ranging from newsletters, posters, digital communications, intranet / internet, CSR and environmental communication campaigns to raise their tally to 12 awards by the end of the evening. The TCL team was in full strength to receive the awards at the glittering ceremony, which was attended by stalwarts from the field of business communications.

Said Homi Khusrokhan, ED, TCL, “In today’s business environment, good communication has become more critical than ever. Our thrust has been on transparent internal and external communications that employ unique and innovative ways of disseminating clear and factual information to all employees and other stakeholders. The ABCI awards have reinforced our commitment towards the way we communicate and vindicates our philosophy of bringing excellence into all that we do”.

The Association of Business Communicators of India is the apex body of professionals in business communications. Founded in 1956, the Association was originally called the Indian Association of Industrial Editors. ABCI (Association of Business Communicators of India) Annual Awards are designed to promote excellence in all areas of written and visual business communications (design, presentation and print quality). The purpose of the awards is to recognise the best in corporate communications. ABCI conducts seminars, refresher courses, study workshops, presentations, lectures, etc and is a forum for communicators to meet and exchange / share ideas and best practices. ABCI is the only association in India promoting excellence in business communications.

Considered as the Oscars of business communications in India, the entries are received from a large number of organisations across the country. ABCI received more than 450 entries in 2005 which included companies like Blue Star Limited, Indian Oil Corporation, Thomas Cook, Goodlass Nerolac, Crisil Ltd, Reserve Bank of India, SBI, National Dairy Development Board, Tata Motors, Colgate-Palmolive, IDBI, Larsen & Toubro, NABARD, Western Railway, Wockhardt, Kotak Mahindra, among others.



http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20051031.htm

Alcar Chemicals Group's CEO in Live Interview With MN1

MONTREAL--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 15, 2007 -- Alcar Chemicals Group Inc. (Other OTC:ACMG.PK - News) announces today that its CEO will be interviewed live on MN1.

According to the company, Dr. Cavasin, founder and current CEO of ACMG, will be conducting an interview with MN1 to be aired live on April 2nd at 12:45 PM central time. Dr. Cavasin assured that he will elaborate on the topics of interest expressed by his shareholders such as who the new partners are and what some of the new projects will entice and what they will bring to ACMG; he will elaborate on the new company structure as well as topics such as what the company is undertaking to counter the naked shorting of its stock which has been eroding shareholder's value.

Dr. Cavasin has taken the feedback and questions from various discussion groups formed by his shareholders and will address these in the interview. Please log on to www.mn1.com on April 2nd 12:45 PM central time.

About Alcar Chemicals Group Inc.

The Alcar Chemicals Group (Other OTC:ACMG.PK - News) represents a significant market opportunity due to a serious worldwide supply shortage of raw materials for polymers as well as an increased requirement for ethanol and biodiesel. ACMG has been concentrating on innovative methods for biomass (forestry waste, agricultural waste and non-food crop) valorization for the past decade, specifically petroleum-independent fuel and plastics resin production. Its proprietary technology represents today's most economical and advanced manufacturing process for plastic raw materials, ethanol and bio-diesel, allowing production at cost savings of up to 40% when compared to current production methods.

Important Information About Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this news release that are other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, which contain our current expectations about our future results. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. We have attempted to identify any forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "expects," "intends," "may," "should" and other similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in all of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

A number of factors may affect our future results and may cause those results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Such factors include our limited operating history; our need for significant capital to finance internal growth as well as strategic acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain key employees and strategic partners; our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; fluctuations in the trading price and volume of our stock; competition from other providers of similar products and services; and other unanticipated future events and conditions.


http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/070315/0227130.html

Common plastic chemicals linked to obesity

Phthalates, a class of chemicals used in some plastic food packaging and soaps, have been implicated in higher belly fat in men.

Phthalates are used to make plastic flexible, and are found in plastic tubes, some children's toys, cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, lotions, lubricants, paint, pesticides, and other plastics.

The chemicals have been implicated in reproductive problems in men such as low sperm counts and low testosterone levels, and subtle changes in the reproductive organs of baby boys.

In a new study to be published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Dr. Richard Stahlhut of the University of Rochester Medical Center and his team looked at the connection between phthalates and testosterone.

The researchers wanted to test the idea that phthalates may be linked to obesity, since low testosterone levels appear to cause abdominal obesity and pre-diabetes in men.

"Substantial declines in testosterone levels and sperm quality have been observed in the United States and other countries over the last several decades … and it urgently requires explanation," Stahlhut said.

"While we can't say yet that phthalates are a definite cause, I am certain they are on the list of chemicals that demands careful study."

Exposure could contribute to insulin resistance: study

The team analyzed urine and blood samples from a national cross-section of men in the U.S. from 1999 to 2002. They looked at data on phthalate exposure, obesity, waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin levels for 651 men.

Men with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine had more belly fat and insulin resistance, after adjusting for other factors that could affect the results. In insulin resistance, the body is less able to use insulin to control blood sugar levels, a condition that can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

"If confirmed by longitudinal studies, our findings would suggest that exposure to these phthalates may contribute to the population burden of obesity, insulin resistance, and related clinical disorders," the study's authors concluded.

More than 75 per cent of the U.S. population had measurable levels of several phthalates in their urine, the researchers found.

Researchers do not know what combinations of common low-dose exposures to phthalates may be contributing to reproductive problems, Stahlhut said, but long-term data on hormone levels is needed to investigate the possible link.

Phthalates are among the 69 known contaminants that Statistics Canada is testing 5,000 Canadians for as part of a comprehensive survey announced last year.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/03/15/phthalates.html?ref=rss#skip300x250

Alcar Chemicals Groups CEO in Live Interview With MN1

Alcar Chemicals Group Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ACMG) announces today that its CEO will be interviewed live on MN1.

According to the company, Dr. Cavasin, founder and current CEO of ACMG, will be conducting an interview with MN1 to be aired live on April 2nd at 12:45 PM central time. Dr. Cavasin assured that he will elaborate on the topics of interest expressed by his shareholders such as who the new partners are and what some of the new projects will entice and what they will bring to ACMG; he will elaborate on the new company structure as well as topics such as what the company is undertaking to counter the naked shorting of its stock which has been eroding shareholder's value.

Dr. Cavasin has taken the feedback and questions from various discussion groups formed by his shareholders and will address these in the interview. Please log on to www.mn1.com on April 2nd 12:45 PM central time.

About Alcar Chemicals Group Inc.

The Alcar Chemicals Group (PINKSHEETS: ACMG) represents a significant market opportunity due to a serious worldwide supply shortage of raw materials for polymers as well as an increased requirement for ethanol and biodiesel. ACMG has been concentrating on innovative methods for biomass (forestry waste, agricultural waste and non-food crop) valorization for the past decade, specifically petroleum-independent fuel and plastics resin production. Its proprietary technology represents today's most economical and advanced manufacturing process for plastic raw materials, ethanol and bio-diesel, allowing production at cost savings of up to 40% when compared to current production methods.

Important Information About Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this news release that are other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, which contain our current expectations about our future results. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. We have attempted to identify any forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates,""believes,""could,""expects,""intends,""may,""should" and other similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in all of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

A number of factors may affect our future results and may cause those results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Such factors include our limited operating history; our need for significant capital to finance internal growth as well as strategic acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain key employees and strategic partners; our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; fluctuations in the trading price and volume of our stock; competition from other providers of similar products and services; and other unanticipated future events and conditions.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/870909/alcar_chemicals_groups_ceo_in_live_interview_with_mn1/index.html?source=r_science

Kerala govt asks Drug Control Dept to make act to curb use of poisonous chemicals

The Kerala Government has asked the State Drug Control Department to frame an act to control the licensing and use of chemicals that go into the production of spurious liquor. The proposed legislation would be something similar to the Poisons Act, which regulates licensing of poisonous materials.

Informed sources said, that the spurious liquor makers usually use less alcohol than what is required and add a small quantity of chemicals like methanol to give high intoxicating effect. This helps these illicit players to make good profit without spending much on alcohol.

Sources said, that methanol being a highly poisonous substance, consumption of any beverages mixed it poses as a danger to the health of the public. The main reason for Kerala having so many deaths due to alcohol consumption is the presence of methanol in liquor. It is in this background the state government asked the Drug Control Department to control the licensing and use of methanol in the state.

Control over the alcohol adulteration could not be done effectively so far and that is why the government has decided to frame an act to control the licensing and usage of poisonous substances which go into the making of spurious liquor. A senior government official said that the Poison Act, 1919 has not been very ineffective as the fine of Rs 500 or imprisonment for one year is not considered a sufficient punishment.

The state government's initiative now to frame an effective law is to bring an end to this illegal activity. The Drug Control Department is also considering including the control of "Precursors" used in making narcotics. "Precursors are the raw materials which go into making of the narcotics. There is information that these are being misused often. So we would like to have a control over its usage and licensing too," said the official.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=38002

Tata Chemicals wins the Green Governance Award

Tata Chemicals has won the Green Governance Award 2005 for its project — "Conservation of the Whale Shark". The award was given by Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India on November 10, 2005 at a ceremony in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

The Green Governance Awards have been instituted by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in order to provide impetus to sustainable development and to encourage environmental protection initiatives. The purpose of the award is to recognise and appreciate an organisation's efforts beyond meeting statutory compliance for protection and conservation of the environment.

Said Prasad Menon, managing director, Tata Chemicals, "It was imperative to create an awareness amongst the local community about the significance of these gentle animals and ensure their long term survival. Tata Chemicals partnered with various organisations to ensure that we achieved this objective. The project succeeded in creating an emotional bond between the coastal communities and the whale shark, through interpretation of Indian traditions."

Tata Chemicals won the award in the category — Conservation of Fauna. Tata Chemicals started work on this Whale Shark Conservation project in September 2003, and has used unique and innovative conservation intervention techniques that have brought about positive results in terms of popularising and ensuring the long-term survival of the whale shark — the largest fish on this planet. The approach involved all stakeholders in the whale shark's universe, including the whale shark hunters, boatmen, coastal communities, the forest department, the coast guard, school children and conservation NGOs. Tata Chemicals partnered with Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), an NGO of international repute in this project. The project won international acclaim at the Whale Shark Conservation Conference at Perth, Australia in May 2005, where experts noted that the approach deployed by Tata Chemicals and WTI is a role model for other developing nations where traditional values are strong.

The pre-requisite for this award is for the organisation to have robust environment management systems, that include recycle / reuse of effluents, environmental quality monitoring and management, use of clean technology, emergency preparedness, energy conservation techniques, and training of employees in environmental protection, and conservation of biodiversity.

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20051114.htm

Tata Chemicals acquires controlling stake in Brunner Mond Group UK

Tata Chemicals (TCL), through its subsidiary has signed definitive agreements with the selling shareholders viz Wayland Investments and Barclays Bank for acquiring 63.5 per cent stake in the UK based Brunner Mond Group UK (BM), for a total consideration of about Rs 508 crore.

The Brunner Mond Group manufactures soda ash and sodium bicarbonate and has manufacturing locations in three countries – UK, Netherlands and Kenya. With this acquisition, TCL will now be one of the leading producers of soda ash in the world.

Prasad Menon, managing director, Tata Chemicals, said, "This is yet another milestone on our journey towards becoming a globally competitive company. As a first step towards internationalisation, earlier this year, we became an equal partner in Indo Maroc Phosphore S.A. (IMACID), a company manufacturing phosphoric acid in Morocco. The combined entity of Brunner Mond and Tata Chemicals will now propel us further to greater strengths in technology, customer relationships and cost leadership. Furthermore, it will consolidate our position as a leading manufacturer of Soda Ash in the world."

This acquisition makes TCL one of the most diversified companies with manufacturing facilities in three continents and markets across the world. This deal will add over 1,000 employees across Africa and Europe. The total Soda Ash production capacity of the combined entity will now be close to 3 million tones per annum.

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20051226.htm

Tata Chemicals Total Produce to form JV

Tata Chemicals (TCL) and Total Produce have entered into an agreement to form a 50 / 50 joint venture company in India. The objective of the JV is to create state-of-the-art distribution facilities for fresh fruit and vegetables across India by leveraging the individual strengths of both partners. Total Produce is Europe's largest fresh produce company.

Both parties view the JV as an opportunity to bridge the gap between producer and end consumer, which will significantly increase efficiencies, improve shelf-life and reduce product loss in the supply chain. This new venture will help Indian farmers to improve their incomes and develop the skills needed to raise the quality of Indian farm produce.

Homi Khusrokhan, managing director, TCL, said, "We are very pleased to announce our entry into fresh produce. The experience of our TKS network gained over the years, coupled with expertise in agronomy, gives us a unique edge in this business. Total Produce brings with it a wealth of knowledge, experience and a proven track record of success in this sector. We are delighted to partner with them in this new and exciting venture to take fruit and vegetable production and distribution in India to international standards and, at the same time, ensure improved incomes for farmers."

Carl McCann, chairman of Total Produce, added, "We are very pleased to have entered into the joint venture with a company belonging to a highly reputable Group like Tata. We believe that India with its fast growing economy and one of the world's largest populations provides great potential to build a large and successful business. India is in addition one of the largest producers of fresh produce in the world."

http://tatawestside.com/tata_chemicals/releases/20070212.htm

Velsicol Chemical to transform operations on company wide business intelligence

Plastic additives and specialty chemicals manufacturer Velsicol Chemical Corp says that by standardising on Information Builders’ WebFocus for its business intelligence software it expects to get more value from its existing SAP R/3 ERP business system.

Velsicol plans to use its new software to generate reports across the board – for sales, distribution, quality management, production planning, HR, financials, materials management and plant maintenance.

The company says it needed a reporting tool that could work seamlessly with its SAP, and that WebFocus was the only tool tool it found that didn’t have implementation issues. Main problems, it says, were around getting field descriptions from the SAP tables and using SAP security rules.

“We favoured WebFocus because it works well with the SAP environment and has comprehensive security, data access and drill-down and parameterised-reporting capabilities,” says Lee Goodrich, senior business systems analyst at Velsicol. “Additionally, Information Builders had the best pricing and they agreed to develop a proof of concept.”

Interestingly, Velsicol had been using a reporting tool and says that while most users found it adequate for standard reports, it was limited in terms of drill-downs. They could change field limits and sort orders, but if users needed to add information or fields they had to go back to the developer, which was costly and slow.

Its new software is quite different – it comes with flexible parameterised reporting options, but also Information Builders does not charge for users who running standard reports. And that, says Velsicol, means the company can afford to do what it really wanted – roll the system out to executives, plant managers, production managers, plant accountants, department managers, maintenance managers, quality managers and so on throughout the organisation.

Velsicol plans to supply both standard and ad hoc reporting services via domain-specific dashboards, and may eventually integrate these reports with SAP BW (Business Information Warehouse).

“We’re adopting WebFocus as our BI standard and we plan to roll it out throughout the business,” says Goodrich. “Ultimately, we believe [it] will be as pervasive as the SAP software itself, as we enhance reporting and information management activities throughout the enterprise.”

http://www.mcsolutions.co.uk/article/index.aspx?articleid=-WlDJLrSZ5a15ypWxtQXxPGX69wVpm_z5SJ8wTBamXMA

Chemical releases lead to big fines

CHICAGO -- Aldi Inc. will pay a $23,150 civil penalty as part of a legal settlement stemming from an anhydrous ammonia release at its Dwight food warehouse.

The Aldi case was one of several settlements -- three in Illinois -- announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday. The other Illinois cases in Alsip and Chicago Heights also involved releases of hazardous chemicals.

Aldi, which operates a refrigerated food warehouse in Dwight, was cited for failing to immediately report an anhydrous ammonia release on Aug. 22, 2005.

Anhydrous ammonia can cause skin burns and eye, nose and throat irritation. It can be fatal if inhaled for prolonged periods.

In addition to the civil penalty, Aldi agreed to complete a $23,150 environmental project and purchase additional emergency response equipment for the Dwight Fire Department.

The case in Alsip involved Hondo Inc., doing business as Coca-Cola Bottling of Chicago. Hondo paid a $10,478 civil penalty for failing to promptly report a release of anhydrous ammonia on March 20, 2006, in Alsip.

Alpharma Inc., an animal feed plant in Chicago Heights, paid a $5,000 cash penalty and will complete a $24,737 environmental project for late reporting of a release of sulfuric acid on Oct. 31, 2005, according to the EPA. Sulfuric acid can cause skin burns and eye, nose and throat irritation.

Detroit Edison's electrical power generation plant in River Rouge, Mich., paid a $52,333 civil penalty for failure to immediately report a release of sodium hydroxide on May 6, 2003.

The EPA also announced a new case involving Conserve FS Inc., doing business as Lake-Cook Farm Supply, in Kansasville, Wis. The EPA proposed a $80,596 civil penalty, citing a failure to promptly report a 1,055-pound release of anhydrous ammonia on Oct. 11, 2004.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/business/259704,4_3_JO16_EPASETTLEMENTS_S1.article

Dutch chemicals maker announces partnership with WFP

Dutch chemicals giant DSM will work with the World Food Program as the exclusive partner in the field of food fortification, Dutch paper Het Parool reported Monday.

Feike Sijbesma, member of the DSM Managing Board, announced the deal with the world's largest humanitarian agency in Lyon, France, on Sunday during the biennial BioVision conference on life sciences and biotechnology.

The partnership will focus on improving and increasing nutritious food for people in poor countries and during humanitarian crises. DSM will provide expertise, high-nutrient products and financial assistance to the UN division, which has an annual budget of 3 billion dollars.

"It involves several million euros over a period of three years, " Sijbesma told Het Parool in a phone interview.

"These are no astronomical sums, but our knowledge is worth a lot. The World Food Program called on us with regard to nutrition, because we have the most knowledge in the field," he said.

Addressing the BioVision conference, Sijbesma said the life science industry is able to make a major contribution to fight global malnutrition and hunger, which affect more than 850 million people worldwide.

He emphasized the role companies can play in the realization of the UN Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving hunger and poverty by 2015.

For six of the eight UN objectives it is crucial that malnutrition and starvation are halted, he said.

As part of its Nutrition Improvement Program, DSM has already developed a rice grain with a high concentration of vitamins and minerals. It is mixed with regular rice to fortify staple diets.

The WFP, the largest provider of food aid to the world's hungry, feeds and nourishes an average of 100 million people in over 80 countries each year.

The WFP had previously signed an agreement with postal company TNT, to be its exclusive partner in terms of logistics support in the fight against acute famine and the efforts to reverse structural malnourishment.

DSM makes a wide range of products, from heavy industrial chemicals to nutritional supplements, drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients, and high-performance materials. The group ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields.

The group registered an annual sales of 8.4 billion euros last year and employs some 22,000 people worldwide.

http://english.people.com.cn/200703/13/eng20070313_356857.html

Hazardous chemicals spew from truck no injuries reported

BENTON -- Emergency workers were monitoring a tanker truck Thursday after hazardous chemicals stopped spewing from truck valves a few hours after the driver noticed the problem and parked at a truck stop off Interstate 30.

Richard Griffin of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said the driver noticed the "venting" about noon and parked at J J's Truck Stop at the highway's 106 mile marker. Almost three hours later, the tank had stopped "popping stuff out," Griffin said, and conditions appeared stable. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters, state and local police and emergency officials were on standby at the scene. They did not know how much chemical the tank was holding, said Griffin, the disaster management division leader.

The truck was carrying a mix of DuPont waste chemicals, including flammable, corrosive and toxic materials, said Kenny Harmon, the agency's hazardous materials program manager.

Harmon said the stainless steel tank can possibly hold up to 12,000 gallons.

The chemical company said the truck was headed to a Grafton, Ohio, incineration site. Pressure and temperature rose in the tank during the shipment and the valves worked as designed in "an unusual increase in temperature and pressure," DuPont said in a news release.
*

The company said the tanker truck also vented air through a secondary pressure relief valve, as it is designed to do.

"The material being vented from the truck does have a recognizable odor because it contains mercaptans, the compounds that are added to propane and natural gas to make its distinctive odor," the company said.

The truck stop workers and customers were evacuated as a precautionary measure, Griffin said, after the truck tank valves blew out and the pressure subsided in the tank. The Arkansas State Police said the interstate remained open, although the exit was closed.

Glen Rose School District secretary Regina Burks said the school was told to evacuate, then later given the all clear. In about 45 minutes, Burks said, about 1,000 students were moved from the main campus to another school building five miles away.

Once the school got word from emergency officials that it was OK for the students to return to the main campus, Burks said, the students returned to their usual classrooms.

DuPont said cool water was pumped through the tanker's cooling system to reduce the temperature. Air vented from the trailer will be treated with a water scrubber, which will substantially reduce the odor, the company said.

"We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been caused by this incident," a DuPont official said.

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/03/13/news/030907artruckstopchemicals.txt

Sumitomo Chemical Unveils New Three Year Corporate Business Plan Taking a Quantum Leap as a Global Company

Tokyo, Japan, Mar 5, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited today announced its new Three-Year Corporate Business Plan spanning the period from fiscal 2007 to 2009. The new Corporate Business Plan builds on the steady business expansion and profit growth achieved during the term of the current Corporate Business Plan and is modeled on its basic principles. While positioning the successful accomplishment of the Rabigh Project, with commercial operations to start in the latter half of 2008, as the most important objective to achieve, the new plan also incorporates measures designed to propel the Company through a quantum leap in its further business development.

1. Basic Principle of New Three-Year Corporate Business Plan

To achieve and consolidate high profitability and secure sustained growth potential to generate the added value our shareholders expect in our business as we work to take a Quantum Leap in our business development as a Global Company.

2. Basic Initiatives

- Successful Accomplishment of the Rabigh Project
The Rabigh Project will radically strengthen the foundation of the Company's petrochemical business, and will propel a quantum leap in the profitability of the business as well as significantly accelerating the globalization of the entire Sumitomo Chemical Group. At present, the most important objective is for the Company to concentrate its efforts on completing the Rabigh Project on schedule and bringing it into stable commercial operation as early as possible as well as establishing the necessary marketing structures.

- Enhancing Global Management
In terms of globalization, the successful accomplishment of the Rabigh Project will drive major advances in Sumitomo Chemical's business development. The Company will strengthen and enhance its corporate governance and management systems to support the further development of its businesses on the global stage.

- Enlarging the Value-Added Component of Every Business Sector
By expanding its production capacities and implementing cost rationalizations, launching new products and shifting to higher value-added products, the Company will forge ahead to further strengthen its basis of profitability in the core businesses in all six of its business sectors.

- Expanding the Company's businesses in the life sciences and IT-related materials and Strengthening their Competitiveness
The Company will continue to allocate its business resources in a focused and timely manner, seeking to boost profitability in areas like the life sciences and IT-related materials that are forecast to see sustained market growth.

- Paving the Way for Further Growth
Over the next three years, the Company plans to devote JPY 370 billion to capital investment. Meanwhile, the Company envisions a cash flow of JPY 530 generated from its business activities, and from this free cash flow, a maximum of JPY 200 billion will be set aside as a "growth reserve fund" to be used for investment opportunities with the potential to drive further growth that may arise. In its R&D activities as well, the Company will devote its efforts to the development, cultivation and early commercialization of new businesses.

3. Performance Targets

                                        (billions of yen)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated                 FY 2006             FY 2009
                          (Projection)           Target
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sales                          1,785               2,400

Ordinary income                  150                 250

Net Income                        91                 150

--------------------------------------------------------------
For reference: (FY 2009)
Operating income                                     200
Equity earnings                                       65
--------------------------------------------------------------

In fiscal 2009, the final year of the new Three-Year Corporate Business Plan, the Company is targeting sales of JPY 2.4 trillion, ordinary income of JPY 250 billion, and net income of JPY 150 billion.

The Company seeks to secure a robust balance sheet in fiscal 2009 by raising profitability and enhancing shareholders' equity to achieve a shareholders' equity ratio of 37% and a debt-equity ratio of 0.5.

The Company will expedite the implementation of its new Three-Year Corporate Business Plan with a view to achieving a solid base of high profitability and sustainable growth throughout the entire Sumitomo Chemical Group.

http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=14216

PTM Engineering Plastics Taps Chemical Industry specific ERP System

PTM Engineering Plastics (PTM Nantong) has chosen a suite of enterprise applications from CDC Software, looking to tap into the software's industry-specific functionality to help it increase daily production levels, standardize business processes, including quality assurance, and conform to ISO system standards.

Established in 2001, PTM Nantong is a joint venture between Polyplastics, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, Korea Engineering Plastics and Ticona, a business of Celanese AG, Frankfurt. Polyplastics has approximately 70 percent of the total shares in the joint venture and has responsibility for the company's management.

The plant, which opened in October 2005, is located in Nantong, Jiangsu province, China and produces approximately 60,000 tons per year of polyacetal resin, which is used in a range of applications in markets such as transportation, industrial, appliances, information technology and consumer products.

PTM Nantong chose CDC's Ross Enterprise suite because of its fit to the specific requirements of the chemicals industries and track record of success in global implementations spanning many countries, local regulatory requirements and languages. Ross Enterprise is CDC Software's suite of applications for chemicals manufacturers, and it includes enterprise resource management (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), warehouse management, customer relationship management, real-time performance management and business analytics.

With Ross Enterprise, PTM Nantong will be looking to streamline compliance with the complex statutory tax requirements in China while continuing to meet Japanese regulations. PTM Nantong will also be aiming to shorten processing time and improve throughput and utilization with advanced planning, while gaining the visibility needed to monitor and adjust operations for peak operational efficiency. CDC Software's Technology Center in Shanghai will provide service and support for PTM.

http://www.supplychain.cn/en/art/?1537

Mitsubishi Chemicals WB project cleared

NEW DELHI: The Central Government has permitted a Japanese petrochemical consortium led by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation to go ahead with a foreign direct investment of Rs. 342 crore for the manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) in West Bengal.

The venture, in collaboration with Kolkata-based MCC PTA India Corp., includes Japan-based Sojiz, Marubeni. Toyota Tsusho and Sumikin Bussan are the other members of the consortium.

Another proposal approved pertains to Russia-based JSC Technochim Holding setting up a joint venture with Saraf Agencies of Kolkata for the manufacture of titanium products at Chhatrapur in Orissa. The FDI inflow is estimated at Rs 192.50 crore.

These two ventures are among the 26 FDI proposals worth Rs. 992.84 crore in foreign investment which were approved by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on the recommendation of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The major investment proposals relate to sectors such as industry, chemicals and petrochemicals and petroleum and natural gas.

Among the other major clearances, U.K.-based BG Energy Holdings Limited has been allowed to set up three new wholly-owned subsidiaries in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for developing gas distribution and transmission infrastructure as also distribution, supply and sale of piped natural gas to domestic to commercial and industrial customers and compressed natural gas (CNG) to natural gas vehicle customers. The three subsidiaries in the three States are to involve an FDI component of Rs. 135 crore each.

Another venture approved pertains to U.S.-based Timken Company which has been allowed to invest Rs. 49.50 crore for setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary in Chennai for the manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of highly engineered specialised bearing products.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/19/stories/2006091908681600.htm

8 Technologies for a Green Future

(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- The planet's most pressing environmental problems - global warming, energy shortages, over fishing, pollution - may seem just too big to be solved with today's technology. But don't despair: A lot of bright minds are working on futuristic projects that promise to make the world greener while making entrepreneurs some green.

It's save-the-world stuff like toxic-waste-eating trees, smart electricity grids, oceangoing robots, and floating environmental sensors. Then there's the alternative-energy home fueling station that could jump-start the long-awaited hydrogen economy. This technology may seem far out - but it will probably be here a lot sooner than you think.

1. Home hydrogen fueling station

What could be cooler - or greener - than a hydrogen car in your driveway? Try a solar-powered hydrogen fueling station in your garage. Scientists in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a prototype of such a device. It's about the size of a filing cabinet and runs on electricity generated by standard-issue rooftop solar panels.

The first version of the home fueling station is expected to produce enough hydrogen to give your runabout a range of some 100 miles without emitting a molecule of planet-warming greenhouse gas. Road trips are out of the question, but it's enough juice for running suburban errands or powering fleets of urban delivery trucks.

"You don't need a hydrogen infrastructure to introduce the hydrogen economy," says Sukhvinder Badwal, a veteran fuel-cell scientist leading the project at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

The solar-fired fuel-station-in-a-box leapfrogs two big obstacles to the much-hyped hydrogen economy. One is the multibillion-dollar expense of building national networks of pipelines and fuel stations to replace the corner Chevron.

The other is the fact that today most hydrogen is produced by burning fossil fuel to create hydrogen gas - not exactly a clean and green process. The home hydrogen fuel station solves those problems in one package that Badwal hopes will ultimately sell for about $500.

The heart of the fuel station is an electrolyzer - essentially a fuel cell run in reverse. An electric current from solar panels (a home wind turbine would also do the job) separates water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is compressed and stored, ready for use in a fuel-cell car or an electric/hydrogen hybrid with an engine converted to run on the gas.

CSIRO is in talks with potential commercial partners, so Badwal's lab is off-limits to visitors. But on his computer screen, he reveals a box that would fit easily in the corner of a garage next to the mountain bikes.

Real-world tests of the home fueling system were to begin early this year at RMIT University in Melbourne, with commercial trials two years off. Obstacles remain, including the cost of hydrogen cars, but the technology could go a long way to making the family wagon carbon-neutral. (Read more about home hydrogen fueling stations on the Green Wombat Blog).

2. Environmental sensor networks

Call it the networked environment. Picture tiny - we're talking small as a dime - wireless sensors lining lake beds and ocean floors, buried in the ground, and floating in the air. All the time sniffing the air, water, and soil for chemicals and pollutants and detecting changes in temperature and pressure.

The payoff: real-time data on a variety of phenomena that affect the economy and society - climate change, hurricanes, air and water pollution. Scientists are capitalizing on advances in wireless tech and nanotechnology to build networks of these environmental sensors.

Arizona State University scientist Joe Wang has already deployed them in San Diego Bay and the canals of Venice to keep watch on heavy-metal levels and mercury contamination. Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of California at Berkeley, meanwhile, have created a coin-size solar cell that could power the transmitters for sensor networks that one day might monitor a river or a bay for leaking pipelines.

Cooler yet are solar-powered sensors that hover in the air. Ensco, a technology company based in Falls Church, Va., is developing a beach-ball-size gadget that gets its juice from thin-film solar panels and would measure weather patterns by probing the curve of a jet stream or the interior of a hurricane.

3. Toxin-eating trees

Plant a forest, clean up a Superfund site. That's the idea behind phytoremediation, a technology that uses vegetation to absorb hazardous waste from industrial plants and other polluters.

The technique has been around for years but hasn't proven very effective. Now there's a new twist that promises to make toxic dumping grounds green in more ways than one.

Researchers at York University in Britain have identified bacteria living in the roots of poplar trees that produce an enzyme that zaps residue from RDX, a chemical compound used by the military and industry. The scientists are working on ways to genetically engineer the enzyme to boost the tree's ability to suck up toxic waste. So don't be surprised if you start seeing forests sprouting on old military bases.

Meanwhile, a team from the University of Georgia has transplanted a gene from bacteria that helps neutralize mercury contamination into a common flower. The result: a solar-powered bioremediation system that smells nice too.

4. Nuclear waste neutralizer

Forget Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Homer Simpson. Nuclear energy is making a comeback, and it's now being touted as a greenhouse-gas-free solution to global warming. But one big problem remains: What to do with untold tons of radioactive waste that will be red-hot for hundreds of thousands of years?

The answer: Recycle it. But not with current nuclear-waste-reprocessing technology, which leaves behind an unfortunate by-product - weapons-grade plutonium. Instead, scientists at the government's Argonne National Lab near Chicago are devising a chemical technology called Urex+ that extracts reusable uranium and separates out cesium, allowing four times as much waste to be packed into nuclear burial grounds.

Such technology would at last make a nuke-plant-building boom ecologically feasible, but that's far from the only benefit. It would also leave the plutonium encased in other elements, rendering it all but useless to terrorists, North Korean dictators, and other evildoers. In addition, plans are afoot for a new type of nuclear reactor that could burn the reprocessed waste as fuel. But the inevitable fight over a nuclear revival is some time off - it'll be five to 10 years before the waste-reprocessing technologies are ready for prime time.

5. Autonomous ocean robots

The world's seas are in an ocean of trouble: climate change, vanishing fish, coral bleaching. Just keeping tabs on an airless environment that covers three-quarters of the earth's surface is a bit like exploring a distant planet. Which means it's best to send in the robots.

Unfortunately, today most oceangoing bots are big, dumb, and expensive. They need to be tethered to boats and operated by humans who collect paychecks. But not the Starbug. Under development in Australia, the 4-foot-long yellow robot operates autonomously and is highly maneuverable, thanks to its innovative thruster technology and robotic vision.

According to the robot's designer, scientist Matthew Dunbabin of CSIRO, the Starbug will monitor water quality, map fish habitats, and survey threatened coral reefs. It could also be deployed to detect drops in fish populations, as well as being dispatched to help with underwater gas and oil exploration.

Rather than relying on costly sonar, the Starbug "sees" its surroundings. Its cameras and the onboard Linux operating system let the robot identify and count, for instance, marine pests that are killing off parts of the Great Barrier Reef, a 135,000-square-mile ecological cash cow that generates $8.3 billion annually in tourism revenue.

With the robot's initial cost at an estimated $24,000, Dunbabin envisions fleets of Starbugs launched from shore or small boats. His team is now building the next-generation Starbug, which should start rolling off the assembly line late this year.

6. Sonic water purifier

Here's a sci-fi solution for an age-old problem that leaves 1.1 billion people without access to clean water: Beam ultrasound waves into polluted water, blowing up the cellular walls and carbon bonds of contaminants. What's left is a cool drink of fresh H2O.

Filters and chemicals are normally used to purify dirty water, but researchers are experimenting with ultrasound technology as a cheaper alternative. Ultrasound waves have already been used to break up sewage in sanitation systems.

Now that the probes that produce the sound waves are getting more powerful, however, scientists are retooling the devices to decontaminate large tanks of water, a process called sonolysis.

The goal is twofold. First, portable sonolysis machines could be deployed to isolated villages in developing countries. In urban areas, meanwhile, sonolysis could treat water tainted with industrial pollution. Scientists like Villanova University's Rominder Suri are studying how sound waves can break down chemicals into less harmful components, detoxifying wastewater.

7. Endangered-species tracker

Old: Save the whales! New: Web 2.0 those whales, and then clone 'em! There are more than 16,000 known threatened animal and plant species; their plights worsen each year as deforestation, development, and climate change take their toll.

Conservationists are looking to tag endangered animals like the Amazon's piglike white-lipped peccary with radio frequency ID tags and GPS sensors, and then use Web 2.0 mashup techniques to overlay their locations and map details of their habitats and habits with other landscape features. The plan is to identify and design better wildlife preserves to ensure the survival of species edging toward extinction.

For animals on the brink of oblivion, brave-new-world steps are being contemplated. In 2003, scientists cloned an endangered banteng cow, and XY Inc. of Fort Collins, Colo., has developed sperm-sorting technology that could one day be used for sex selection in endangered species to boost captive breeding programs. India, meanwhile, is setting up a laboratory to cryopreserve the sperm and DNA of rare Bengal tigers and other animals so they can eventually be cloned.

8. The interactive, renewable smart power grid

California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (Charts) is developing the electricity grid of the future, one that will look more like the Internet - distributed, interactive, open-source - than the dumb, one-way network of today that pushes dinosaur molecules from a carbon-spewing power plant to your home.

Hal LaFlash, PG&E's director of renewable-energy policy and planning, gave Business 2.0 a preview of the technologies and energy sources that utilities will tap for the power grid of tomorrow.

Solar stations Large-scale plants using new thermal and photovoltaic technologies will operate in Southern California and the desert Southwest.

Solar buildings As solar cells are integrated into rooftops, walls, and windows, homes and office towers will become miniature power stations, generating their own electricity and feeding excess power back into the grid.

Wind power Anywhere the wind blows is a potential site for a turbine, but the Great Plains is the place utilities are eyeing for giant wind farms.

Wave power PG&E is looking at the Northern California coast for potential sites for wave energy generators. The Northeast coast is another prime source of as-yet-untapped wave power.

Cow power California has 1.7 million cows and more than 2,000 dairies. A dozen dairies have already installed methane digesters to turn cow manure - a source of one of the most destructive greenhouse gases - into electricity. The digester extracts methane gas from cow poop and uses it to power an electricity-generating turbine. Other dairies have plans to produce a bovine biogas that will be piped to power plants.

Car power PG&E is developing technology that will allow future "plug-in" hybrid vehicles not only to recharge their batteries but also to feed electricity back into the power grid during peak demand.

Clean-coal plants Located mainly in the East and Midwest, these plants will gasify coal, stripping it of pollutants. Carbon dioxide will be captured before it can be released into the atmosphere.

Smart grids Interactive power grids will communicate with smart agents embedded in household appliances, allowing power to be distributed where it is needed most. \

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/02/01/8398988/index.htm

Lyondell Chemical to Sell a Unit to Saudi Company

Lyondell Chemical said yesterday that it had agreed to sell its titanium dioxide pigment business to an affiliate of the National Industrialization Company of Saudi Arabia for about $1.2 billion.

Lyondell said that the deal would include a cash payment of $1.05 billion, and estimated its after-tax proceeds at $975 million.

National Industrialization owns 66 percent of the buyer, the National Titanium Dioxide Company, also known as Cristal. Titanium dioxide is a white pigment commonly used in consumer products like paint and toothpaste.

Lyondell said the deal was expected to close in the first half, and added that it intended to use the proceeds to reduce debt.

The operations being sold include eight factories in Europe, Australia and the Americas, National Industrialization said in a statement on the Saudi stock market Web site.

Prince Walid bin Talal, a Saudi billionaire and member of the royal family, is a shareholder of National Industrialization. Last month, the prince said he had raised his stake in the company from 10 percent, without saying how much he had bought.

Lyondell’s chief financial officer, T. Kevin DeNicola, said last month the company had received offers from 5 to 10 buyers for the pigment unit.

Shares of Lyondell rose $1.10, or 3.4 percent, to $33.04, on the New York Stock Exchange.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27chemical.html?ex=1173844800&en=ac4a6c3b64e8c38d&ei=5070

Harmful Teflon Chemical To Be Eliminated by 2015

Eight U.S. companies, including giant DuPont Co., agreed yesterday to virtually eliminate a harmful chemical used to make Teflon from all consumer products coated with the ubiquitous nonstick material.

Although the chemical would still be used to manufacture Teflon and similar products, processes will be developed to ensure that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) would not be released into the environment from finished products or manufacturing plants.

PFOA -- a key processing agent in making nonstick and stain-resistant materials -- has been linked to cancer and birth defects in animals and is in the blood of 95 percent of Americans, including pregnant women. It has also been found in the blood of marine organisms and Arctic polar bears.

The voluntary pact, which was crafted by the Environmental Protection Agency, will force companies to reduce manufacturing emissions of PFOA by 95 percent by no later than 2010. They will also have to reduce trace amounts of the compound in consumer products by 95 percent during the same period and virtually eliminate them by 2015.

The agreement will dramatically reduce the extent to which PFOA shows up in a wide variety of everyday products, including pizza boxes, nonstick pans and microwave-popcorn bags.

While not as sweeping as the federal ban on DDT in 1972, yesterday's agreement is expected to have profound implications for public health and the environment. An independent federal scientific advisory board is expected to recommend soon whether the government should classify the chemical as a "likely" or "probable" carcinogen in humans, which could trigger a new set of federal regulations.

"The science is still coming in on PFOA, but the concern is there," said Susan B. Hazen, acting assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "This is the right thing to do for our health and our environment."

The move, which came just a month after DuPont reached a $16.5 million settlement with EPA over the company's failure to report possible health risks associated with PFOA, drew applause from environmental groups that have frequently criticized both the administration and DuPont.

"This is one of those days when the Environmental Protection Agency is at its best. With its announcement today, the EPA is challenging an entire industry to err on the side of precaution and public safety, and invent new ways of doing business," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization. "As harshly as we have singled out DuPont for criticism for its past handling of PFOA pollution, today we want to single out and commend the company and acknowledge its leadership going forward."

DuPont officials said they were confident they could alter manufacturing methods over the coming decade to contain PFOA exposure from products that generated $1 billion in sales for the company in 2004.

"It's important to do this because this is a persistent material in the environment, and it's at low levels in people's blood," said David Boothe, DuPont's global business director. To remove PFOA, he said, the company will subject some of its products to extra heat and will sometimes add a step in the manufacturing process. "We're going to push it really hard and take it as far as we can."

Scientific studies have not established a link between using products containing trace amounts of PFOA, such as microwave-popcorn bags or nonstick pans, and elevated cancer levels. Hazen said yesterday's announcement should "not indicate any concern . . . for consumers using household products" with such coatings.

Several other companies agreed yesterday to reduce public exposure to the chemical, including 3M Co., Ciba and Clariant Corp. But DuPont, which settled a class-action suit last year accusing it of contaminating drinking water in Ohio and West Virginia communities near its plant in Parkersburg, W.Va., has attracted the most public scrutiny over its PFOA use.

William Bailey III, who was born in 1981 with multiple birth defects while his mother, Sue, was working with the chemical at the Parkersburg plant, said he will "be watching" to see if the chemical giant complies with the new agreement.

"They're trying to save face," said Bailey, who is suing DuPont over his birth defects.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012502041.html

EU sets stage for fight on chemicals

The European Parliament's powerful environmental committee approved tough new rules Tuesday regulating the bloc's €400 billion chemical industry, presaging a tense showdown between the European Union and the world's biggest chemical companies, which argue that the regulations risk damaging business and hurting global trade.

At issue is EU legislation, known as Reach, for the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals, which would shift the burden of proof from regulators to businesses when it comes to the safety of up to 30,000 commonly used industrial chemicals.

The legislation has become the most dramatic example of Europe's "precautionary principle" of regulation. In contrast to the U.S. approach, it requires businesses to show that the substances they put on the market are safe, rather than requiring regulators to prove why they should be banned.

The U.S. government initially feared that $150 billion of its exports could be affected. The U.S. chemical industry has estimated that the proposal could cost U.S. companies alone some $8 billion during the next decade. But EU lawmakers counter that all chemical companies will need to either conform to the EU's more stringent standards, or risk missing out on a European market of 470 million consumers, which is now larger than the United States.

Products ranging from certain plastics to some materials used by pharmaceutical companies could be affected, as well as industrial solvents like ethyl benzene and heavy metals like cadmium used in some paints. A number of low-risk substances like the polymers used in food packaging and shopping bags are likely to be totally or partly exempted from registration requirements.

The legislation has caused such concern in the United States that, in April 2004, the secretary of state then, Colin Powell, sent out a seven-page cable to U.S. embassies in all of the EU's 25 member states questioning the legislation's overly cautious approach and warning that it "could present obstacles to trade and innovation." Some European governments, including Germany, Britain and France, have also expressed fears that it could dampen the bloc's competitiveness.

Some nongovernmental organizations like Greenpeace charge that German industry, led by the chemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer, used its sway to try and water down the legislation that was first discussed by ministers in 1998. Margot Wallstrom, deputy president of the European Commission and the former environment commissioner, described the lobbying as the most intense that she had experienced.

In the draft rules adopted by the Parliament's environmental committee, which still must be approved by the Parliament as a whole and by EU member governments, EU lawmakers have backed regulations forcing chemical companies to substitute dangerous chemicals with safer alternatives if such alternatives exist. The rules are designed to protect consumers from the potentially hazardous effects of chemicals found in everyday products.

Guido Sacconi, an Italian lawmaker from the Socialist Group who is steering the package through Parliament, said, for example, that toxic chemicals found used in a ballpoint pen would potentially need to be substituted if a safer alternative were available, even if the pen had been on the market for years and the substitute was more expensive to produce.

"There are possibly toxic substances in this pen," he said, waiving his pen in the air at a press conference. "If a safer alternative is available, then it should be substituted." He added that the additional cost to the chemical industry of using a safer and more expensive substance would be more than offset by the alternative of being forced to close factories producing a chemical deemed to be unsafe. He noted, however, that a hazardous substance could be allowed if the benefits outweighed the risks.

But industry fears that the strict criteria and inherent cautiousness of EU regulators could lead to the banning even of substances that have clear benefits for public health. The registration process could prove onerous, they charge, and could compromise trade secrets.

Franco Bisegna, head of government affairs at the European Chemical Industry Council, said the substitution rule was an unfair burden on business. Citing a hypothetical example, he said that if a flame retardant used in the upholstery of an airplane passenger seat was deemed to be risky by the EU, a company could be forced to stop using it or to substitute it, at potentially enormous cost.

"What if the flame retardant was banned and there was no substitute?" he said. "It's better to have an airline seat with antiflame retardant than one that would be vulnerable in case of fire - we need to look at the social benefits as well as the risks." The chemicals industry is also concerned about proposals by the Parliament forcing chemical companies to review permits for the most hazardous substances every five years. Under the rules, manufacturers would also have to register the properties of chemicals in an EU database.

But EU lawmakers counter that the tougher standards will prevent as many as 4,500 deaths a year. They say that the safety benefits for consumers more than outweigh the added costs to business. EU regulators said the tougher standards would cost as much as €5.2 billion, or $6.5 billion, to producers and users over 15 years, when they introduced the legislation in 2003.

Bisegna said that the regulations would affect all multinational chemical companies doing business in Europe and that U.S. fears about the legislation were exaggerated.

"If Reach is supposedly going to make European chemical producers less competitive, then shouldn't the U.S. be happy?" he asked. "If industry can't solve its competitiveness problems, I don't think it will be Reach that will have given it its kiss of death."

Reach would require the chemicals industry to test the safety of the 30,000 or so chemicals that have been on the market across the world without any significant testing of their toxicity on human health and the environment. These substances would require registration with an EU agency.

Only about a third of 140 potentially high-risk substances on the market before 1981 underwent full assessments, according to the commission.

The European Parliament is planning a final vote on the directive in November or December; if approved, the directive then must be cleared by EU member governments. That still leaves time for the lobbying process to continue.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/10/business/reach.php