Comment

The chemical industry today called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to support the role industry can play in leading the UK out of recession by taking a few key measures to support chemical businesses. Chemical industry products are the raw materials for every other manufacturing industry. Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the UK Chemical Industries Association said: "with just a few affordable changes to tax and regulations, sectors like the chemical industry would be in a stronger position. In next week's Pre-Budget Report Elliot wants to see: Government underwriting, at least on a temporary basis, of the Pension Protection Fund. The PPF in its current form risks forcing schemes and even Businesses to close ...

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As Oliver Hardy was often heard to say: “Another nice mess!” Commentators could be forgiven for using the phrase to describe the current economic conditions with stock markets tumbling, the Banking World in near collapse and governments around the Globe wading in with tax-payer funded rescue plans. And not wishing to understate the seriousness of the current financial situation, heads will surely roll. Already several banking bosses have ‘stepped down’ or were they pushed? Either way government investor negotiators have applied some strict conditions to the salvage plans. And these will result in new management teams at many of our biggest financial houses. But what’s to say that the new brooms will have better luck than their...

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The majority of gas used in the UK is imported from the North Sea. Frequent leaks on North Sea gas pipelines are contributing to gas becoming an expensive and unreliable fuel source. Regular inspections, investigations into the cause of these accidents and taking the relevant actions to prevent future incidents may prevent unnecessary fluctuations in oil and gas prices in the future, but perhaps not for some time. Such inspections and maintenance may help prevent unnecessary changes in wholesale energy costs and the money saved could be used to improve gas storage. The lack of facilities in the UK prevent energy companies storing gas when it is available at low prices. The UK has the capacity to store around 13 days of gas, compared to...

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Control systems at industrial plant are at a higher risk than ever to computer malware beating virus protection systems and firewalls, which have been compared to Swiss Cheese - full of holes. Malware is now posing a greater threat to control systems than ever before. Computer viruses, worms and Trojan horses are increasing at such an alarming rate that the manufacturing, process and utility industries are under considerable threat from poor protection. Much of the problem is a lack of understanding of the risks associated with increased connectivity between former islands of automation such as process plants, manufacturing sites, distribution centres and the business systems operated in companies’ head offices. Many firms simply don’t...

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