Europe
Asia: India
The Indian economy has come a long way since the 1991 economic reforms. A decade and a half of economic reform and globalization is yielding returns that cut across all income groups. The domestic eco..
Asia: Japan
The Japanese economy showed steady recovery for 2003–2007. However, due to the global recession in late 2008, Japan’s GDP growth decreased to –1% in 2008 and to –5.5% in 2009. Due ..
Europe: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) is Europe’s fourth largest chemical economy, after Germany, France and Italy. It accounts for 8% of the European Union’s (EU’s) $900 billion overall chemical pro..
France's GDF Suez close to buying Repsol LNG unit
GDF Suez is interested in the unit as it is already big on liquefied natural gas production, export and supply shipment, according to company officials. A report says GDF chief executive Gerard Mestrallet may announce a deal during an investors day scheduled next Thursday.
Libyan ex-rebels block access to main oil refinery
The refinery in Zawiyah supplies around 70% of the country's fuel, and a similar four-day protest there in early November cost the government $30 million. Thursday there were already queues forming at petrol stations in Tripoli, although an official said there was no danger of a fuel shortage.
Jacobs licenses sulfur recovery technology to VKG for Estonia shale oil refinery
Services are being provided from Jacobs’ Leiden office in The Netherlands. Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is licensing its proprietary EUROCLAUS technology to VKG; and is also providing the basic design package, training, start up and commissioning assistance services.
Norway orders BP to implement safety measures
Norway's PSA said that fire protection for the main substructure and process equipment on the Ula P processing platform were inadequate and passive fire protection needed to be installed. Such protection would slow a fire from spreading and protect the steel structure of the platform from deformation.
Essar Energy sees improving UK refining margins
Essar is now processing 11 crude grades at Stanlow, enabling it to take advantage of lower cost opportunities, and it said a new natural-gas supply, to fuel the plant's boilers, will allow more flexibility in the choice of crude oils it processes. Gross refining margins were $8.03/bbl in the period.
Russian government approves Rosneft's TNK-BP acquisition
Russia's government has approved state-controlled oil giant OAO Rosneft's $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP from BP and its partners.
OMV to divest 45% stake in Bayernoil by 2014
Austrian oil and gas company OMV AG will divest its 45% stake in German refinery Bayernoil Raffinerie GmbH by 2014, according to material presented by the company at its London media summit.

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