Environment & Safety
Total to challenge French government decision on shale gas - report
French oil and gas giant Total plans to challenge the French government's decision to cancel its exploration permit for a shale gas field in Montelimar, in the south of France, reported Les Echos Monday. In October the French government canceled exploration permits on shale-gas fields after it said Total maintained its intention to drill the potential fields using hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique that was banned in the country earlier this year.
Solutia closes deal to buy Southwall Technologies
US-based specialty chemicals firm Solutia has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Southwall Technologies, a producer of energy-saving films and glass products for the automotive and architectural markets. The acquisition was completed on Monday with a merger of a subsidiary of Solutia into Southwall.
Austria minister opposed to shale gas drilling - report
Austrian Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich said he is opposed to shale gas drilling for environmental reasons, the daily Der Standard reported. Berlakovich's sentiment could result in companies like Austria's OMV being denied permission to extract the country's shale gas deposits.
IEA urges fix of renewable energy subsidies
Governments offering financial incentives to renewable energy generation technologies must do more work to make this support more cost effective, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday. Problems can be avoided by quickly adapting subsidy policies as technologies evolve and their costs fall, said the agency.
EPA punts on GHG regs for refineries
The US Environmental Protection Agency was facing a mid-December deadline to propose regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries. With that date drawing near, the EPA acknowledged it was in a fourth and long situation.
SABIC helps Hyundai's QarmaQ crossover go green
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) will take part in the 10th International Plastics and Petrochemicals Trade Fair to showcase its range of polymer solutions. A highlight of the SABIC pavilion will be Hyundai's QarmaQ crossover utility vehicle.
Chevron works to contain oil sheen offshore Brazil
Chevron Corp. recently reported that its subsidiary, Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade, continues to work in partnership with Brazilian government agencies to contain, reduce and eliminate the remaining oil sheen in the vicinity of its Frade field.
Linde hydrogen plant receives Responsible Care Certification
Linde North America announced today that it has received certification of its Salt Lake City, Utah hydrogen plant under the Responsible Care program offered by the American Chemistry Council.
Total opposed to proposed EU offshore rules
Stricter offshore regulations proposed by the European Union are unnecessary and will simply add needless bureaucracy to successful safety programs in countries like the UK and Norway, Total SA's head of northern European exploration Patrice de Vivies said Thursday. He said: "Standards in the UK are the best in the world and of course Norway" too.
TransCanada: Keystone reroute agreement could speed approval process
TransCanada Corp. said it reached a tentative deal with Nebraska officials that would move the planned route of its Keystone XL pipeline project away from an environmentally sensitive region, possibly reviving a stalled approval process for the controversial oil conduit.
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