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| ASIA: Interview with Timothy Phang, managing director of Lubrizol Southeast Asia Pte Ltd |
| Monday, 02 June 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, June 2, Monday) --- This is an extract of the filmed interview with Timothy Phang, managing director of Lubrizol Southeast Asia, on www.EnergyAsia.com. 1. Can you please give us a brief description about Lubrizol and its activities in Asia, and the key countries of its operations. “Lubrizol, headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, US, is one of the world’s premier specialty chemical companies. It provides innovative technologies to global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Its technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers’ products. “The company consists of two business segments: Lubrizol Additives and Lubrizol Advanced Materials. 2007 revenues of $4.5 billion (up 11% vs. 2006). 6,900 employees worldwide. “Lubrizol Additives includes additives businesses for engine, driveline, and industrial lubricants and fuel (diesel and gasoline) as well as services. Today, Lubrizol Additives is a leading global supplier of fuel and lubricant additives for transportation and industrial lubricants. We provide quality products and innovative solutions to lubricant and fuel marketers around the world. “Our customers rely on Lubrizol technology to improve the performance of their lubricants and fuels, which work to improve the performance and lifespan of critical components such as engines, transmissions and gear drives for cars, trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and marine and industrial applications. “Lubrizol Advanced Materials is a leading global producer of advanced specialty polymers, polymer-based additives, and chemical additives for a broad range of consumer and industrial applications. “Our additives and ingredients are used in personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology; and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives.” “The Lubrizol Corporation has facilities throughout Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and India. “Lubrizol Additives operates out of China, India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. In India, we have a JV with Indian Oil Corporation, and in China we have two JV manufacturing facilities in Lanzhou and Tianjin with PetroChina. “In Asia, Lubrizol Additives manufactures a variety of lubricant additives. Lubrizol Advanced Materials operates in both China and India, with a presence in Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore. “Some Lubrizol Advanced Materials highlights from the region: o We are enhancing our presence in Shanghai, by building a new $40 million specialty chemicals facility in Songjiang. The facility should be completed by 4Q 2008. The new facility is adjacent to our existing Estane TPU plant. o In 2007, Lubrizol Advanced Materials opened a new Conductive Polymers expansion in Seremban, Malaysia. The facility produces resin injection molding application products for the Estane Engineered Product line. 2. In March, Lubrizol announced the launch of a 10-year investment plan to meet the demand of its global customers. How significant is this plan in the company’s history? “The Lubrizol Additives investment is significant. We will invest over US$1 billion in the next 10 years. “Lubrizol Additives continually monitors market needs and develops business strategies to address these needs. The 10-year investment plan is an example of this business process. The investment is designed to ensure that Lubrizol Additives continues to be the most reliable supplier to the fuels and lubricants industry. “The investment plays a significant part in the Lubrizol Additives long-term global manufacturing and supply chain strategy.” 3. The company said it will focus its 10-year plan on a US$200 million investment programme in China. What will Lubrizol be investing in China? “The 10-year phased investment plan will include an investment in China. Specifically Lubrizol will build a grass roots manufacturing facility in the Tianjin Harbour Industrial Park. “Development of the Tianjin site is part of The Lubrizol Corporation’s desire to meet the increasing demands of its additive customers. “The investment in the Tianjin site is further confirmation that Lubrizol is committed to the region. The site will accommodate the relocation of the Tianjin Branch plant of the Lanzhou Lubrizol Lanlian Additive Co Ltd. Lubrizol’s engine oil additive joint venture, due to change of zoning. By sharing this site with the JV, Lubrizol believes both parties will achieve cost saving synergies and the JV will benefit from doing more business with Lubrizol. “The site will be a wholly owned manufacturing facility, developed and phased in as market needs require. With this site, Lubrizol aims to respond to lubricant growth in Asia and better match its manufacturing footprint with global demand patterns.” |
| SINGAPORE: ‘Daiwa FTSE Shariah Japan 100’ seminar attracts more than 80 financial industry players |
| Friday, 30 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 30, Friday) --- A seminar on Japan’s first Islamic Shariah law-compliant fund, which includes several listed oil, gas, chemical and utility companies, held in Singapore on May 26 attracted more than 80 people from the financial industry. Launched in collaboration with leading Shariah authority Yasaar Ltd, the fund aims to track the performance of the FTSE Shariah Japan 100 Index that measures the investment return of the largest and most liquid companies that comply to Islamic rules. Designed to meet the investment requirements of both Islamic and conventional investors internationally, the fund allows investors instant access to the top 100 Shariah-compliant Japanese listed companies as measured by market capitalisation. Japan’s second biggest asset management company, Daiwa Asset Management, said it aims to expand its equity product portfolio to suit the needs of global Islamic investors with this index. The seminar also covered topics on the ‘FTSE Japan 100’ index, Daiwa Asset Management’s role in the index and an outlook of the Japanese economy and stock market. Speakers included Paul Hoff (FTSE), Michihito Higuchi and Masaru Arai (Daiwa Asset Management). Daiwa and FTSE plan to hold the same seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Hong Kong at the end of the month. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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| AUSTRALIA: Trucks should convert to natural gas, says analyst |
| Friday, 30 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 30, Friday) --- Big truck fleets should take the lead and convert from diesel to natural gas, says Perth-based independent petroleum industry analyst Peter Strachan. Mr Strachan said Australia is sitting on abundant reserves of natural gas – estimated to be more than 140 trillion tcubic feet – which are earning big export dollars in the form of liquid natural gas (LNG). Western Australia relies heavily on gas for power generation and there are significant plants in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. However, with escalating crude oil prices, there is a clear case for extending the use of gas in motor vehicles,” he said. “Besides being cheap, natural gas burns more cleanly than petrol and diesel and gives off much lower emissions. “Many motorists are already reaping savings from the use of LPG (a mixture of propane and butane). However methane-based natural gas is cheaper and burns even more cleanly. “Providing natural gas as an alternative fuel choice for cars would require an enormous investment in fuelling infrastructure. However it’s not such a big problem for trucks and buses equipped with long-range tanks and access to fuelling depots, where they can use either compressed natural gas or LNG. “The conversion technology is available and some buses and trucks are using LNG in Western Australia. “Wesfarmers has recently commissioned a 175 tonnes per day (t/d)) LNG plant in Perth, designed to supply remote power plants with fuel as well as fuel for the transport industry. “All that’s required to extend the use is the entrepreneurial and political will.” Mr Strachan is a speaker at the 2008 South East Asia Australia Offshore Conference (SEAAOC) in Darwin in July, where gas will be a central focus of energy discussion. |
| SINGAPORE: IBC Asia’s ‘Shipping Capital 2008: Sale and Purchase’ at Sheraton Towers July 29 to 31 |
| Thursday, 29 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 29, Thursday) --- ‘Shipping Capital 2008: Sale and Purchase (SNP)’ will be held at the Sheraton Towers in Singapore from July 29 to 31. The event aims to equip ship owners and management with an understanding of ship financing tools, insurance packages and legal aid available for acquiring vessels. Topics addressed include market volatility, global downturn, financing and investing in SNP, in-house SNP versus brokered deals, the financing landscape, trading strategy, effects on claims exposures and risk management, funding shipping investments, alternative fund raising, market cycles, asset play, vessel register, legal issues, and the role and purpose of insurance. Speakers at the event include Khalid Hashim (Precious Shipping Public Company), Tim Huxley (Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings), Alvin Cheng (PST Management), Quah Ban Huat (Rickmers Trust Management), Subhungshu Dutt (PIL), Tan Hua Joo (Seacastle Inc), Anshukanth Taneja (South East Asia Standard & Poor’s Ratings Centre), Matthias Umlauf (HSH Nord Bank), Tan Hui Tsing (Joseph Tan Jude Benny), Kate Roberts and Kate Sherrard (Watson Farley & Williams), Derek Tan (Rajah & Tann), Winston Kwek (Rajah & Tann), Martin Lanting (Raets P&I), Annie Ng (International Registries Pte Ltd), Stephen (Lloyd’s Shipping Economist) and Paul Chang (HSH Nordbank). A pre-conference workshop on the ‘Practical Approach to Sale and Purchase’ will be held on July 29. It will examine recent SNP legal issues and the risks involved in today’s activities. Workshop directors include Winston Kwek (Rajah & Tann), Kate Sherrard (Watson Farley & Williams) and Tan Hui Tsing (Joseph Tan Jude Benny). For more information on ‘Shipping Capital 2008: Sale and Purchase’, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| SINGAPORE: Oxford Princeton’s ‘Aviation Fuels: Supply, Trading and Risk Management’ June 16 - 18 |
| Thursday, 29 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 29, Thursday) --- ‘Aviation Fuels: Supply, Trading and Risk Management’, a course offered by the Oxford Princeton Programme, will be held in Singapore from June 16 to 18. Delegates will be able to participate in industry case studies and trading and hedging simulations. The course will be directed by Mary Jackson who has over 15 years of experience in the energy industry. For more information on ‘Aviation Fuels: Supply, Trading and Risk Management’ , please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| SINGAPORE: “LPG Trading and Pricing - Shipping, Contracts and Price Risk Management" on June 18-20 |
| Wednesday, 28 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 28, Wednsday) --- ‘LPG Trading and Pricing - Shipping, Contracts and Price Risk Management’, a course offered by the Oxford Princeton Programme, will be held in Singapore from June 18 to 20. The course is recommended for commercial, operations and marketing staff, planners, economists and government officials as well as executives involved in LPG supply, shipping and international trading. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| MALAYSIA: ‘Clean Energy and Power Generation 2008’ to discuss key energy issues |
| Wednesday, 28 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 28, Wednesday) --- ‘Clean Energy and Power Generation 2008’, organised by Avail Corporation, will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 14 to 15. The conference will also address various energy problems such as rising prices that the region is facing in the near future. Speakers at the event include executives from the China National Coal Association, the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Atoms for Peace (OAEP), US Department of Energy and Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission. Topics addressed include investment in clean power generation technologies, advanced technology for clean and efficient coal-firing plants, the role of nuclear energy in mitigating global warming, impact of climate change on the energy sector and the future of energy supplies. For more information on ‘Clean Energy and Power Generation 2008’, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| SINGAPORE: Oxford Princeton’s ‘Fundamentals of Technical Analysis’ from June 18 to 19 |
| Tuesday, 27 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 27, Tuesday) --- The Oxford Princeton Programme’s ‘Fundamentals of Technical Analysis’ workshop will be held in Singapore from June 18 to 19. Topics covered include technical analysis, trading discipline, managing risk and coordinating with fundamental analysis, trend lines, Japanese Candlesticks, support and resistance and retracement levels, characteristics of the Elliot Wave Theory and Gann, calculating and using moving averages and MACD, DMIs parabolics, stochastics, RSIs, momentum, marketProfile and Bollinger Bands, hedging and speculating with technical analysis and mechanical trading system development. For more information on ‘Fundamentals of Technical Analysis’ and other workshops by the Oxford Princeton Programme, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| BOOK: ‘Wind Energy Handbook’ on using wind energy to generate electricity |
| Tuesday, 27 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 27, Tuesday) --- The ‘Wind Energy Handbook’ draws on the collective industrial and academic experience of several experts to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of wind energy research and provide a comprehensive treatment of wind energy for electricity generation. Together, they provide an overview of wind turbine technology and wind farm design and development, in-depth examination of the aerodynamics and performance of land-based horizontal axis wind turbines, a survey of alternative machine architectures and an introduction to the design of the key components, description of the wind resource, coverage of site wind speed prediction technique and discussions on wind farm siting constraints and environmental impact, integration of wind farms into the electrical power system, power quality, system stability and the functions of wind turbine controllers and design and analysis techniques. With coverage ranging from practical concerns about component designs to the economic importance of sustainable power sources, the ‘Wind Energy Handbook’ is highly recommended for engineers, turbine designers, wind energy consultants and graduate engineering students. For more information on the ‘Wind Energy Handbook’, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Check out www.EnergyAsia.com for more energy books and maps.
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| AUSTRALIA: ‘Gas, LNG and Transportation Contracts & Gas/LNG Pricing’ in Perth from June 16 to 20 |
| Monday, 26 May 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, May 26, Monday) --- ‘Gas, LNG and Transportation Contracts & Gas/LNG Pricing’ will be held at the Mercure Hotel in Perth, Australia from June 16 to 20. As the gas price, and sales and purchase contract conditions largely determine the value and risks in transactions, understanding how these instruments define risk allocation and is crucial to ensuring the success of trading gas and LNG. It will address technical aspects of gas, LNG and transportation contracts, operational issues, key terminologies, model structures of LNG, natural gas and gas transportation contracts, default conditions, risk mitigation, force majeure and other legal clauses, liabilities and insurance, contract negotiation techniques, basics of economic appraisal for gas pricing, cost of capital and risk premium, financial modelling techniques, pricing methodologies, net back, cost plus, competitive basis and cost of service methods, capacity and commodity charges, pricing of gas for electricity generation and fertiliser market, indexation, floor, ceiling, S-curve , price re-opener, pricing under regulatory framework, gas transportation tariff methodologies and regulatory price formula. The workshop will be directed by Robin Chatterjee, who has been advising some of the largest gas majors engaged in exploration and production, gas transportation and distribution, LNG importation, cross country gas trade and regulatory issues for over 35 years in his roles as a consultant and corporate employee. ‘Gas, LNG and Transportation Contracts & Gas/LNG Pricing’ is organised by IIR Pty Ltd. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
