The USD 500 mln Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative is funded by BP

(BP) -- BP and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance announced that the independent Research Board of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI) has released its Request for Proposals for studies into the effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident and the potential associated impact on the environment and public health. The USD 500 million GRI is funded by BP and administered by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

The independent Research Board of the GRI has created a selection process that includes an open Request for Proposals, peer review of the submissions, selection of the Research Consortia to study the five research themes, and award of funds during the summer of 2011.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- After the Kuokang Petrochemical complex faces near-abandonment in Taiwan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) plans to take steps to ensure sustainable development of the country's petrochemical industry. The Ministry has been urged to find alternative sites for the Kuokuang petrochemical complex originally to be constructed on reclaimed land in Changhua, due to controversy over the project's environmental impact. Priority will be given to helping local firms cut carbon emissions, upgrade their manufacturing facilities, adopt the most advanced technology and pursue higher value products through R&D efforts.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- QAPCO's new low density polyethylene (LDPE-3) plant will have its commercial launch in the first quarter of 2012. To be located at Mesaieed, the new plant will have a capacity to produce 300 KTa LDPE. With this, Qapco will become one of the major low-density polyethylene producers in the world. Qapco's two existing lines - LDPE 1 & 2 have production capacity of over 400 KTa.

MRC

(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- Saudi Aramco is expected to increase its domestic and global refining capacity by 50% to more than 6 million barrels per day, according to Khalid Al-Falih, CEO of Saudi Aramco. Speaking at the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Seoul, Al-Falih said that this growth will be achieved through two new refineries under construction in Saudi Arabia.

He said that four grassroots refineries were under consideration with one being in Jaizan on the southwest coast of the Kingdom and three other joint venture refining projects in China, Vietnam and Indonesia respectively.

He also said that in five years, Saudi Aramco's natural gas capacity will exceed 15 billion standard cubic feet per day, adding that his company is spending a total capital budget of USD 125 billion on local and international projects.

MRC

(BASF) -- BASF has signed an agreement with the investor group of Germany-based inge watertechnologies AG to acquire the company and its ultrafiltration membrane business.

Inge watertechnologies AG is a global leading provider of ultrafiltration technology, a membrane process used in the treatment of drinking water, process water, wastewater and sea water. It is headquartered in the town of Greifenberg near Munich in Germany and employs about 85 staff. With a global reach, the company's range of products include highly-efficient ultrafiltration modules and cost-effective rack designs which are the core components of water treatment plants.

⌠This transaction is an important step in strengthening BASF's technology and innovation driven business and is in line with our focus on addressing major global challenges. The deal will further improve BASF's position in the water treatment industry, which is an attractive and fast-growing market and helps to improve quality of life everywhere, said Dr. John Feldmann, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and responsible for the Performance Products segment.

The investor group and BASF have agreed not to disclose financial details of the deal. The transaction, which is subject to approval by competent merger control authorities, is expected to close within the third quarter of 2011.

MRC