12.03.2012

Japan's Asahi Kasei to buy U.S. Zoll for $2.2 Billion

Japan's Asahi Kasei will buy U.S. medical equipment maker Zoll Medical for $2.21 billion as it looks to build a globally competitive healthcare business and reduce its reliance on its chemicals and fibers operations. Asahi Kasei will buy Zoll in an agreed cash deal for $93 a share, a 24% premium to Zoll's closing price on Friday, the two companies said in a joint statement. The deal is Asahi Kasei's biggest acquisition by far. more21.06.2011

UN Atom Chief Yukiya Amano Urges Nuclear Safety Inspections, Tests

The U.N. nuclear chief proposed international safety checks on reactors worldwide to help prevent any repeat of Japan's atomic crisis, a plan which may face resistance from nations worried about outside involvement. more21.06.2011

Banri Kaieda: Japan Economy Will Suffer If Nuclear Power Axed

Japan's economy will suffer major damage if it reduces output from nuclear power stations to zero in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, its trade minister said on Monday. Routine maintenance and public concern since the Fukushima accident have left only 19 of Japan's 54 reactors functioning. more20.06.2011

Japan May Crude, LNG Imports Jump On Nuclear Shutdowns

Japan's oil and gas imports gained sharply in May from a year ago to fuel power plants running hard to compensate for nuclear reactors either crippled by the March earthquake and tsunami or shut later due to safety concerns.      The increased demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil imports could peak in the summer as the country faces peak demand amid power shortages as nuclear plant run rates fall.     more11.05.2011

Asia’s Future Bioplastics Hub

Boom Region - In 2011, the markets for bio-based materials are continuing to develop dynamically (with annual growth rates of 15-30 %). It is estimated that a global production capacity for bio-based products of 700,000-800,000 tons per year was established by end of 2010. Within these scenarios Asia is going to develop as a key region for bioplastics - Asia is predicted to serve 25 % of the world demand for bio-based materials in 2020.
General Situation for Bio-Based Materials in Asia more18.04.2011

Japan Nuclear Operator Aims for Cold Shutdown in 6-9 Months

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power said on Sunday it hoped to achieve a "cold shutdown" of its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in six to nine months, setting a timeframe for bringing the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years under control. Within three months Tokyo Electric said it planned to cool reactors and spent fuel at the nuclear plant to a stable level and get radiation leaks on a downward trend. more13.04.2011

Japan March Petchem Naphtha Imports Fall 10% Year over Year

Japan's naphtha imports for the petrochemical sector fell 10% in March from the same month a year earlier, government figures showed on Wednesday, reflecting the impact of last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami. Imports of naphtha for ethylene production amounted to 1,724,515 kiloliters (1,193,398 tons) last month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement. more13.04.2011

World Health Organization: Japan Nuclear Accident No Worse

An increase in the severity level of Japan's nuclear accident does not mean the public health risk is any worse or that the disaster resembles Chernobyl in 1986, global expert bodies said on Tuesday. "Our public health assessment is the same today as it was yesterday," World Health Organization spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters, explaining that the higher rating was the result of combining the amounts of radiation leaking from three reactors and counting them as a single incident. more23.03.2011

Russia Set To Double Oil Supply To Japan

Russia is set to double its crude oil supply to earthquake-devastated Japan this year to some 18 million tons as a part of an energy aid package, top Russian energy official Igor Sechin said on Tuesday. Russia is rolling out several proposals to help Japan, which is suffering from the world's worst nuclear crisis in a quarter of a century, including an offer to increase shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal. more17.03.2011

Guenther Oettinger Plays Down Japan Warning

Warnings of a further possible nuclear catastrophe in Japan by Europe's energy chief were based on media reports and his personal fears, his spokeswoman said after the comments alarmed financial markets. EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger earlier warned of "further catastrophic events" in the coming hours in Japan, saying they "could pose a threat to the lives of people on the island." But his spokeswoman, Marlene Holzner, later clarified the situation. more