Friday News Round Up

Friday once again, so a time to update on various past stories and news items

• ICIS has analysed the various chemical companies job loss related annoucements reported to them since the start of the financial crisis in September 2008. The figures show that chemical companies have cut over 77,000 jobs since the crisis began.

• In the UK, NEPIC, the North East Chemical Industry Cluster, will investigate the commercial feasibility of chemical production from biomass. The 30-month project is being carried out on behalf of the UK Government department DEFRA

•  BASF has announced that it will close its maleic anhydride plant at Feluy, Belgium by the end of this year, with the loss of 133 jobs

• As Copenhagen approaches, UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown expressed his views on climate change. He warned delegates at the Major Economies Forum in London (representing 17 of the world's biggest greenhouse gas-emitting countries) there was "no plan B" regarding climate change and that negotiators had "50 days to save the world from global warming".
  
  
• Paul Hodges sets out his views on what's to come for 2010 in his analysis 'Budgeting for a New Normal'. In his summary, he states "2010 to be a transition year. Full economic recovery is unlikely to take place much before the 2011/13 timeframe. But the return of economic growth will offer companies the opportunity to identify likely future market needs. Those that focus on this new reality, rather than simply hoping for a quick return to the Boom years, will position themselves for future success."