The global BDO market was growing at a yearly rate of 6-7%. Growth in the Western hemisphere was at 3-4%, while growth in Asia stood at roughly 8%, with China having a growth rate of 10%. Market growth slowed after 2008 with signs of rebound in 2009 and after.

In 2009 demand for butanediol was estimated at 1.52 mln tons. The higher demand was attributed to the increased use of spandex fibres and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). However, a number of factors could drive demand even higher. New capacity for BDO and derivatives in China could stimulate the market and encourage new investment in derivatives. Future major investments in PBT capacity could also drive growth. In addition, the shift away from the acetylene-based Reppe process to cheaper routes, using propylene, butadiene or butane feedstock with improved process economics, should improve operating margins for manufacturers.

Butanediol is a valuable chemical intermediate used in the production of high performance polymers, solvents and fine chemicals. The BDO chain has three main branches – polymers, tetrahydrofuran (THF) derivatives and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) derivatives.

Butanediol is used directly in the manufacture of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and copolyester ether (COPE). PBT has been growing at over 6%/year, principally consumed in engineering plastics for the automotive and electronics industries.

More information on Butanediol market may be found in the report Butanediol (BDO) Market Outlook 2010 recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

Acetic acid is an important chemical reagent and industrial chemical, used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (used in soft drink bottles), cellulose acetate (for photographic film), and polyvinyl acetate (for wood glue), as well as synthetic fibers and fabrics. In households, diluted Acetic acid is often used in descaling agents. In the food industry Acetic acid is used under the food additive code E260 as an acidity regulator and as a condiment. Production of vinyl acetate monomer is the largest single use of Acetic acid, it is closely followed by acetic anhydride and ester production. The volume of Acetic acid used in vinegar is comparatively small.

Acetic acid is manufactured both biologically (bacterial fermentation) and synthetically. The Acetic acid used in chemical industry is produced by methanol carbonylation route. The biological route takes up only 10% of production and the Acetic acid manufactured this way is used for vinegar production which is in line with regulations claiming for its biological origin.

In 2008 global capacity for Acetic acid stood at 12.03 M tons, with output at some 9.6 M tons. The capacity utilization rate accounts for around 82%. The USA took a 22% share of this capacity, trailed by the Asian region with 67%, Europe with 9.6%. The level of demand expansion for the material in the USA was at a mere 2% a year.

Worldwide demand has been growing at 3%-5% annually, driven largely by China, where annual demand is growing at double-digit rates. Demand in the Americas and Europe has been stagnant during the same period. Asia is experiencing the fastest growth. Acetic acid demand in China has grown at 15-16% per year over the past five years. Much of this growth has been met by imports which jumped by 30% in 2006 to reach 707,000 tons compared to 543,000 tons in 2005. However, imports could fall within the next few years as new capacity comes on-stream.

Long term global demand for Acetic acid is forecast by consultants to grow at the same level (3-4% a year). Growth will be again much higher in Asia, pulled by China.

India is also seen as a country where there could be strong Acetic acid demand growth in the future. Downstream polyester demand in India is relatively small due to a preference for natural fibres. However, this will change as polyester technology improves while constraints on land for growing cotton increase.

More information on Acetic acid market may be found in the report Acetic Acid: 2010 World Market Outlook And Forecast recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

BP has fitted a larger, tighter-fitting containment cap on the ruptured Gulf of Mexico wellhead that has been gushing with oil since the Deepwater Horizon explosion on 20 April.Crude oil continues to spill into the sea, but the company wants to begin testing the new cap’s internal pressure this morning by closing its valves and hopes to be able to stop the flow until more permanent measures can be taken.

BP warned that success was not certain: “It is expected, although cannot be assured, that no oil will be released to the ocean for the duration of the test. This will not, however, be an indication that flow from the wellbore has been permanently stopped.”

BP said it does not expect to plug the undersea geyser for good before mid-August, after intercepting the rupture point with one of two relief wells now being drilled.

Former US coastguard Admiral Thad Allen, who is overseeing the US government’s spill response, said that if the cap works it will be used to resume the siphoning of oil to ships on the surface until the ruptured well can be permanently plugged.

The new cap-and-seal stack, which is larger than the one removed on Friday and bolted over the top of the wellhead rather than clamped loosely over it, is designed to capture three times more leaking oil, or virtually the entire flow.

Allen said it was possible the new cap could be used to shut down the wellhead again temporarily “for a period of time, such as during a hurricane or bad weather”.

Doug Suttles, BP’s chief operating officer of exploration and production, suggested the cap might be used to keep the well closed for a longer stretch. “Depending on the results, we’ll either continue to contain the flow while we wait on the relief well or potentially be able to close the flow in,” he said.

For the duration of the well-integrity tests, two other subsea oil-siphoning systems, one of them just brought online on Monday, will be turned off, BP said.

Suttles said that even if the cap can shut off the flow, which is one mile (1,600m), below the surface, BP must still finish the relief well at an even greater depth so it can pump heavy drilling fluid and then cement to permanently plug the leak.

On Monday, the first of two relief wells, begun on 2 May, was about 190ft (58m) from intersecting the blown-out well that is 13,000ft beneath the seabed, Suttles said. The relief well could reach its target by the end of July, BP says, keeping it on schedule to actually kill the leak by mid-August.

If the relief wells fail, BP could install a new permanent oil-capture system by late August or early September, Kent Wells, senior vice president of exploration and production, told President Barack Obama’s commission investigating the spill.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Formaldehyde is the most commercially important aldehyde. Urea-, phenol- and melamine-Formaldehyde resins (UF, PF and MF resins) accounted for approximately 63% of world demand on the Formaldehyde market in 2009.

Construction/remodeling activity, vehicle and furniture production, and original equipment manufacture (OEM) account for most world consumption of Formaldehyde. Demand for these markets is greatly influenced by general economic conditions. As a result, demand for Formaldehyde largely follows the patterns of the leading world economies.

Formaldehyde resins are used predominantly in the wood products industry as adhesives. Growth of these resins is strongly correlated to construction/remodeling activity. The largest non-forest product consumer of Formaldehyde, representing 12% of the North American consumption, is polyacetal resin, produced at two plants. This is followed closely by MDI production used in the growing polyurethanes industry.

In 2009 world Formaldehyde capacity was estimated to have reached about 29 mln tons/year, traditionally Asia hold the majority of capacity – about 40%, followed by Europe with 31% and North America (24%). Global production approached 27.5 mln tons in 2009 reflecting market growth in comparison with 2008. World consumption is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 4.0% during 2010–2015. World demand for Formaldehyde in wood resins is forecast to remain strong as solid wood has been replaced by manufactured wood-based panels. Overall, Formaldehyde is not at risk for large-scale substitution by competing products.

More information on Formaldehyde market may be found in the report Formaldehyde: 2010 World Market Outlook And Forecast recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

Most widely spread and actively traded materials offered on Hong Kong Building Materials market are concrete, metal and plastic structural materials, bricks, building glass, roof tiles, timber and such alternative products as adobe, bamboo, carbon fibre.

Concrete is used extremely widely in building and civil engineering structures, due to its low cost, flexibility, durability, and high strength. It also has high resistance to fire. Since the widespread use of concrete, stone is rarely used as a primary structural material, often only appearing as a cladding, because of its cost and the high skills needed to produce it. Brick and concrete blockwork have taken its place. Roofing engineering is the separate part of structural engineering within the Hong Kong construction sector. The material of a roof may range from banana leaves, wheaten straw or seagrass to lamininated glass, aluminium sheeting and precast concrete, plastic-membrane roofing.

Producers of Structural Materials in Hong Kong are represented by:

• bricks producers – Alliance Construction Materials Ltd., Green Island Cement Co., Ltd., Sika Hongkong Ltd., Val Mart International Ltd.;
• building glass manufacturers – CA Special Glass Processing Co Ltd, Weyish Home Product Co., Ltd., Green Younger Group (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.;
• metal building materials suppliers – Kingmetal Resources Co., Ltd., Star Steel Precision Works (HK) Ltd., Billion Star International Trading Ltd., Kam Kiu (Hong Kong) Ltd.;
• plastic building materials producers - BENA Global Ltd. , KCC Plastic Co., Ltd. , Plato Chemical Co., Ltd., Decorative Wall Panel Co. Ltd.;
• timber suppliers – Merdeka Timber Trading Limited, MK PRODUCTS Inc., Luli Group, Prettywood Hong Kong Branch.

Environmentally friendly building materials are now receiving a steady growth in usage resulting from the growing public awareness. New industry standards and technologies have added diversity and growth to the Hong Kong green build market.

Hong Kong is a frequent host of major Construction Materials trade shows, the largest of which are Hong Kong International Building and Decoration Materials & Hardware Fair, Eco Expo Asia, Asian Elenex 2010 / Asian Building Technologies and Interiors.

More information on Structural Materials market in Hong Kong may be found in the report Structural Building Materials Market in Hong Kong: Business Report 2010 recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

Polypropylene industry is witnessing emergence of new PP companies, and the change of roles on the market. Most of the new players are companies headquartered in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Global capacity utilization rate is expected to be as high as 80-85%. Europe and the US are demonstrating impressive capacity utilizations, as a large numbers of polypropylene plants owned by the major players are recording 100% capacity utilization rates. Key players in the marketplace include Basell Polyolefins, Borealis A/S, Innovene, Dow Chemical Company, Equistar Chemicals, Exxon Mobil Chemical Co., Reliance Industries Ltd., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Sunoco Chemicals etc.

It is notable that production of polypropylene and polyethylene in most countries will be unable to compete with the Middle East production as feedstock costs of the Middle East producers are barely 20% of the cost of feedstock available to Asian and European producers.

Along with motor vehicles, appliances and carpets, packaging is a major market for PP. Modern industrial polypropylene packages have high technical characteristics of durability, elasticity, ease, safety and the maximal convenience in use. Main sectors responsible for PP bag consumption include the packing of the following items: cement, flour, mineral fertilizers.

A Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container – FIBC, big bag, bulk bag, or super sack – is a standardized container for storing and transporting in large volumes (used for example for sand, fertilizers, granules of plastics or other dry products storing). It is frequently made of thick woven polyethylene or polypropylene.

During the last ten years flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs, Big-Bags) ousted other kinds of packages for bulk transportation and storage. At present, FIBCs are generally recognized as a universal bulk packaging since they can be easily adapted to any handling machinery, filling and discharge stations.

The use of such bags has a number of advantages that allow to minimize the possible financial expenses during the transportation, due to the absence of hand work on each stage of loading.

Packaging (FIBC) market is often considered recession-proof in comparison with other PP end uses with regard to pull-through demand. However, inventory swings along packaging substantial supply chain can play havoc with production demand, particularly during long down-market swings. In the long term, the packaging market can be vulnerable to possible regulations mandating the use of recycled plastics and source reduction.

More information on Polypropylene FIBC market may be found in the report Polypropylene Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (Big Bags) Market Research recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

The peak of Animal Feed production in Russia was reached in 1990, followed by the dramatic downfall in 1998. Today this sector experiences growth, however it is unlikely it will reach 1990 level in the coming years.

Russia has been demonstrating a steady trend to expand Animal Feed production. The output in 2008/2009 was 14 mln tons according to official data (or 24 mln tons indicated by unofficial data).

Russian Animal Feed market is hugely dependable upon corresponding feedstock markets.

Animal Feed production rise is directly related to the increase in the purchasing power of main Russian cattle breeding segments and the level of investment into them. Dynamically developing poultry farming is currently a main fodder consumer and a major impetus behind fodder production expansion in Russia. This sector is followed by cattle and fish breeding.

Despite the steady growth, Animal Feed industry in Russia faces a number of challenges. The cattle breeding development is impeded in Russia by non-balanced character of animal feed both at protein and amino acid level. This hindered performance of the Russian cattle breeding sector in terms of quantity and quality. Moreover, such non-balanced fodder is predominantly used to feed cattle stock (cows, bulls, pigs, etc), which has a detrimental effect on the Russian cattle breeding industry as compared to that of the developed countries.

At the same time production of balanced Animal Feed is hazardous in the country as a result of high level of equipment deterioration (up to 90%) at Russian animal feed plants, consumer-unfriendly location, lack of qualified and trained personnel, permanent rise in prices for power, feedstock, biologically active components, disintegration of high-tech sector of Animal Feed manufacture.

More information on Animal Feed market in Russia may be found in the report Animal Feed Market in Russia: Business Report 2010 recently published by TD The Market Publishers, Ltd.

China has abundant pine resources, which guarantees sufficient oleoresin for gum rosin production. However, in the past two years, infestation, eucalyptus planting and bad weather such as drought, heavy rain, snow, etc. have given greatly negative influence on oleoresin tapping in major pine growing areas, especially in Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Jiangxi and Hubei. How heavily did they affect the production of gum rosin in these provinces? What kinds of measures have been taken?

Chinese export volume of gum rosin has dropped sharply in recent three years. Is it related to the adjustment in Chinese policies on gum rosin export, such as repealing export quotas, lowering export rebate?

Moreover, since most gum rosin is exported through the port of Huangpu, the price and stock of gum rosin reflect general domestic market trend. How about the fluctuation of gum rosin price in the past one and a half years and how much stock was stored in Huangpu port at the beginning of each month in the past two and a half years?

In recent three years, since more and more domestic producers and multinational corporations are engaged in the deep-processing of gum rosin, domestic consumption volume has been increasing. How about the consumption structure of gum rosin in the past three years and has the demand shifted within these major markets? What about the future prospect on major downstream industries?

The detailed answers of the above focuses will be given in this report, and it will also provide you an insightful analysis on other following aspects:

• Position of Chinese gum rosin in the world
• Production of gum rosin in the past few years in China
• Key factors influencing the price of gum rosin and pricing in the past few years
• Detail analysis on export & import of Chinese gum rosin in 2007~2009
• Market size and share of gum rosin in major end use segments in 2007~2009
• Multinational corporations’ impact on China’s gum rosin and gum rosin derivatives production, especially for several Japanese conglomerates
• Future forecast on Chinese gum rosin production in the next 5~10 years
• Introduction to major 30 gum rosin producers in China and know the latest dynamics on Chinese gum rosin industry

Executive summary
Methodology & sources

I PRODUCTION AND MARKET INFORMATION

I-1 Pine resources & oleoresin situation
  I-1.1 Pine resource in China
    I-1.1.1 Current pine resource
    I-1.1.2 Current oleoresin storage
    I-1.1.3 Eucalyptus planting
  I-1.2 Government regulations on pine resources
  I-1.3 Ownership of pine resource and its trend in the future
  I-1.4 Collection and purchasing behavior of oleoresin in China
  I-1.5 Price of oleoresin over the years
  I-1.6 Production of oleoresin over the years
    I-1.6.1 Oleoresin output in the past years
    I-1.6.2 Main factors influencing oleoresin production
I-2 Position of Chinese gum rosin in the world
I-3 Production situation of gum rosin
  I-3.1 Development of China’s gum rosin production
  I-3.2 Gum rosin output
  I-3.3 Cost analysis
  I-3.4 Manufacturers
    I-3.4.1 Number of manufacturers, dealers and end users
    I-3.4.2 Top 40 active producers
    I-3.4.3 Ownership of manufacturers
  I-3.5 Production distribution
  I-3.6 Special finding about Chinese gum rosin production
    I-3.6.1 Current situation of domestic manufacturers
    I-3.6.2 Current situation of foreign manufacturers in China
    I-3.6.3 Policy regulation
I-4 Price of gum rosin
  I-4.1 Factors influencing the price
  I-4.2 Price in the past few years
  I-4.3 Current price
  I-4.4 Price trend in the next few years
  I-5 Export & import situation of gum rosin and its derivatives
    I-5.1 Export situation in the past few years
    I-5.2 Export & import analysis in 2007~2009
I-6 Consumption pattern of gum rosin in China in 2007~2009
  I-6.1 Market size and market share of gum rosin in major end use segments
  I-6.2 Brief introduction to major downstream industries
    I-6.2.1 Paper industry
    I-6.2.2 Paint & coating industry
    I-6.2.3 Ink industry
    I-6.2.4 Adhesive industry
    I-6.2.5 Soap industry
    I-6.2.6 Rubber industry
    I-6.2.7 Food industry
    I-6.2.8 Battik industry
    I-6.2.9 Other industries
  I-6.3 List of major end users
I-7 Brief introduction to major derivatives
  I-7.1 Brief introduction to gum rosin derivatives industry in china
  I-7.2 Brief introduction to major derivatives
    I-7.2.1 Gum rosin ester
    I-7.2.2 Other derivatives
I-8 Problems existing in gum rosin industry in China
I-9 Involvement and achievement of multinational corporations
I-10 Competitive landscape
I-11 Key driving forces and challenges for China’s gum rosin development
  I-11.1 Driving forces for China’s gum rosin industry
  I-11.2 Challenges for China’s gum rosin industry
I-12 Future forecast on gum rosin in the next 10 years

II APPENDIX: PROFILES OF 29 ACTIVE PRODUCERS

II-1 Guangxi Wuzhou Pine Chemicals Ltd.
II-2 Guangxi Wuzhou Sun Shine Forestry & Chemicals Co. Ltd.
II-3 Guangxi Nanning Heli Rosin Group
……

II-29 Guangxi Ningming Tongmian Yitong Forest Chemical Factory

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 RMB exchange rates against USD, 1994-2009
Table I-1.1.1-1 Geographical distribution of main pine species for tapping in China
Table I-1.1.1-2 Pine tree tapping stand for the age group area and volume by 2004
Table I-1.1.1-3 Pine tree tapping stand for the age group of timber area and volume by 2004,
Table I-1.1.2-1 Oleoresin storage calculation of tapping pine over the country
Table I-2-1 Position of Chinese gum rosin in the world (t/a)
Table 1-3.2-1 Gum rosin output in China, 1950s~1980s
Table I-3.3-1 Cost analysis on oleoresin purchasing contract in Guangxi, 2009 (50,000 pine trees)
Table I-3.3-2 Cost analysis on 1st December, 2009
Table 1-3.4.1-1 Number of manufacturers, dealers and derivative plants of gum rosin in China
Table 1-3.4.2-1 Summary of top 40 active manufacturers of gum rosin, 2009
Table I-3.5-1 Production distribution of gum rosin, 2007~2009
Table I-4.2-1 Lowest prices of gum rosin (1st grade) in each month, 2000~May 2010 (USD/t)
Table I-4.2-2 Highest prices of gum rosin (1st grade) in each month, 2000~May 2010 (USD/t)
Table I-4.2-3 Average price of gum rosin (1st grade) in each month, 2000~Apr. 2010 (USD/t)
Table I-5.1-1 History of gum rosin export in China
Table I-5.1-2 Export situation of gum rosin, 1996~2006
Table I-5.1-3 Domestic sale and export of gum rosin in China in the past few years
Table I-5.1-4 Export destinations of gum rosin, 2000~2006 (tonne)
Table I-5.1-5 Major buyers of Chinese gum rosin from oversea
Table I-5.2-1 Adjustment of export rebate rate on gum rosin in China
Table I-5.2-2 Average export price of gum rosin in China, 2007~2009
Table I-5.2-3 Export ports of gum rosin in China, 2008~2009
Table I-5.2-4 Destinations of gum rosin, 2007~2009
Table I-5.2-5 Major active exporters of gum rosin in China, 2009
Table I-5.2-6 Comparison of gum rosin exporters to Mexico in 2006 and 2009 (tonne)
Table I-5.2-7 Average import price of gum rosin, 2007~2009
Table I-5.2-8 Origins of gum rosin in China, 2009
Table I-5.2-9 Major importers of gum rosin in China, 2009
Table I-5.2-10 All importers of gum rosin from Indonesia in China, 2009
Table I-6.1-1 Market size and market share of gum rosin by volume, 2007~2009
Table I-6.1-2 Market size and market share of gum rosin by value, 2007~2009
Table I-6.2.3-1 Major producers of rosin modified phenolic resins in China (t/a)
Table I-6.2.7-1 Major hydrogenated rosin glycerin ester and edible rosin glycerin ester producers in China
Table I-6.3-1 Major end users of gum rosin in paper industry
Table I-6.3-2 Major end users of gum rosin in paint & coating industry
Table I-6.3-3 Major end users of gum rosin in rubber industry
Table I-6.3-4 Major end users of gum rosin in batik industry, 2009
Table I-6.3-5 Major end users of gum rosin in ink industry
Table I-7.1-1 History of gum rosin derivatives in China
Table I-7.2.1-1 List of top 8 active producers of glycerol rosin ester and pentaerythrytol rosin ester
Table I-7.2.2-2 List of top 10 producers of rosin modified phenolic resin in China
Table I-7.2.2-3 Major polymerized rosin producers in China
Table I-9-1 Key companies invested by foreign enterprises in China
Table I-11.2-1 Production and demand situation of petroleum resin in China, 2000~2004
Table I-12-1 Forecast on overseas demand growth of Chinese gum rosin
Table I-12-2 Forecast on domestic demand growth of gum rosin
Table I-12-3 Forecast on domestic demand and global demand of Chinese gum rosin

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure I-1.1.1-1 Area and growing stock of PM, PY, PKVL by 2004
Figure I-1.4-1 Oleoresin collection in China
Figure I-1.5-1 Selling price situation of Pinus massoniana-based oleoresin in China, 2007
Figure I-1.5-2 Selling price situation of Pinus massoniana-based oleoresin in China, 2008
Figure I-1.5-3 Selling price situation of Pinus massoniana-based oleoresin in China, 2009
Figure I-1.5-4 Selling price situation of P. yunnanensis-based and P. kesiya var. langbianensis-based oleoresin in Yunan, 2007~2009
Figure I-2-1 Consumption share of gum rosin from China by destination, 2009
Figure 1-3.2-1 Gum rosin output in China, 1989~1997
Figure 1-3.2-2 Output of gum rosin in the past 10 years in China
Figure I-1.5-5 Selling price situation of P. elliottii-based oleoresin in China, 2007
Figure I-1.5-6 Selling price situation of P. elliottii-based oleoresin in China, 2008
Figure I-1.5-7 Selling price situation of P. elliottii-based oleoresin in China, 2009
Figure I-1.6-1 Flow chart for processing of oleoresin
Figure I-1.6-2 Oleoresin output in recent years in China
Figure I-1.6-3 Oleoresin output in main producing provinces, 2005~2009
Figure I-4.2-1 Average price of gum rosin (1st grade), 2000~2009
Figure I-4.3-1 FOB price of gum rosin from Huangpu port, Nov. 2008~Mar. 2010
Figure I-4.3-2 Stock of gum rosin in Huangpu port at the beginning of each month, Jun. 2008~May 2010
Figure I-4.4-1 Forecast of average price of gum rosin in 2010~2014
Figure I-5.2-1 Export situation of Chinese gum rosin to Mexico, 2004~2009
Figure I-5.2-2 Import situation of gun rosin in China, 2004~2009
Figure I-6-1 Apparent consumption of gum rosin in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6-2 Distribution of gum rosin consumption in China, 2009
Figure I-6.1-1 Consumption fields of gum rosin in China
Figure I-6.1-2 Consumption pattern of gum rosin in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.1-3 Consumption pattern of gum rosin in China, 2009
Figure I-6.2.1-1 Consumption of gum rosin in paper industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.2-1 Consumption of gum rosin in paint & coating industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.3-1 Consumption of gum rosin in ink industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.4-1 Consumption of gum rosin in adhesive industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.6-1 Consumption of gum rosin in rubber industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.7-1 Consumption of gum rosin in food industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-6.2.8-1 Consumption of gum rosin in batik industry in China, 2005~2009
Figure I-12-1 Future output of gum rosin in China, 2010~2020

COMPANIES MENTIONED

Guangxi Wuzhou Pine Chemicals Ltd., Guangxi Nanning Heli Rosin Plant, Guangxi Ningming Tongmian Yitong Forest Chemical Factory, Guangxi Wuzhou Sun Shine Forestry & Chemicals Co. Ltd.

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Carlo Centonze, chief executive of HeiQ Materials, said the company had received a visit from US army and consular officials last Thursday to evaluate its fabric that could potentially protect the coastline.

“Our product is being presented today (Tuesday) in Washington and we are waiting for the green light from authorities to deploy our material on the beaches,” Centonze told AFP.

HeiQ Materials is ready to produce up to 10 miles per day of the fabric, which was developed with the German firm TWE, said Centonze, adding that up to five other production facilities could also produce the fabric.

The mats are said to be able to absorb oil and repel water allowing them to be used as a protective barrier along the coastline. “The oil does not spread in the sand but is absorbed by the fabric. It can then be carried away and incinerated in a cement factory or a power plant,” Centonze explained.

Source: Redorbit.com

Two of the three projects will use the stored CO2 for enhancing the recovery of oil, while the third will store the carbon dioxide in a deep saline formation. Between the three, they are expected to capture and store 6.5m tons of CO2 per year.

In the first of the projects, Leucadia Energy and Denbury Onshore plan to capture and sequester 4.5m tons of CO2 per year from a new methanol plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The CO2 will be sequestered for enhanced oil recovery use in the West Hastings oilfield south of Houston starting in April 2014.

The project team involved includes Leucadia Energy, Denbury, General Electric, Haldor Topsoe, Black and Veatch, Turner Industries, and the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.

In the second of the three projects, Air Products and Chemicals will partner with Denbury Onshore to capture and sequester one million tons of CO2 per year from existing steam-methane reformers in Port Arthur, Texas, starting in November 2012. The CO2 captured will also be sequestered via use for enhanced oil recovery in the West Hastings oilfield.

The team in this project includes Air Products and Chemicals, Denbury Onshore, the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Valero Energy.

In the final project, Archer Daniels Midland Corporation will capture and sequester one million tons of CO2 per year from an existing ethanol plant in Illinois, starting in August 2012. The CO2 will be sequestered in the Mt Simon Sandstone, a saline reservoir located about one mile from the plant.

The project team involved includes Archer Daniels Midland, Schlumberger Carbon Services and the Illinois State Geological Survey.

’Capturing carbon emissions and storing them underground is a crucial technology as we build a clean energy future and address the threat of climate change,’ said US Energy Secretary Steven Chu. ’These investments will create jobs and help ensure that the US can lead the world in the clean energy economy.’

Source: Theengineer.co.uk