News in brief

Discharges of mercury and cadmium to the environment have been effectively reduced as a result of regulation by the Environment Agency. The findings are published in a report Control of Mercury and Cadmium in Liquid Discharges, carried out by consultant WS Atkins. The report states that between 1987 and 1997, discharges of mercury and cadmium into the sea around the UK had been reduced by 73 and 54 per cent respectively.

* AMEC get ISO 14001 status

AMEC Process and Energy's onshore contracting division has been awarded ISO 14001 for its environmental management systems. The award covers the systems operated at its Darlington offices, and one of its principal operating sites at Wooler in Northumberland. ISO14001 provides an international standard of commitment to implement and maintain sound environment policies supporting environmental protection and pollution prevention.

* BASF boosts capacity...

Speciality amines capacity at BASF's complex in Geismar, Louisiana has risen by some 12500tpa, to 22500-27000tpa, depending on product mix.

* ... and buys in the East

BASFhas bought the half-stake in its Korean styrene polymers joint venture, Hyosung BASF, which it did not already own. The venture, based in Ulsan,makes 165000tpa of polystyrene, 65000tpa of EPS and 40000tpa of ABS; an additional 150000tpa of ABScapacity is due to come on-stream next month.

Titanic result for Aggreko

Titanic might have won 11 Oscars, but it didn't get the one it truly deserved best use of industrial chilling equipment. The production company hired Aggreko refrigeration equipment to cool down the water around the mocked-up ship the water was steaming in the Mexico heat and had to look like it had icebergs floating in it. The contract helped the company to boost its annual profits by 2 per cent, to £37.9 million.