News in brief

Process technology firm Kemgas has handed over the first commercial plant to use a new route to acetylene to its owners, the Hoechst subsidiary Messer Griesheim. The plant, in Hamilton, Bermuda, converts calcium carbide to acteylene. `We are now in a position to launch this product into the global market place,' comments Kemgas chairman Ken Jackson.

* BASF aims for DSM's ABS

BASF and DSM have signed a letter of intent `to study the possibility of BASF acquiring DSM's ABS business.' Based at Geleen in the Netherlands, the business includes both polymerisation and compounding facilities, has 250 employees and garnered sales of some Fls 220million last year.

* Akzo sells Courtaulds unit

Akzo Nobel has sold the US-based plastic injection moulding business Knight Engineering & Plastics, formerly part of Courtaulds, to Berry Plastics Corporation for an undisclosed sum. The business makes aerosol caps, dispensing closures and scew-tops.

* German nuclear power to end?

The German Green Party - which is set to be handed the environment ministry in Chancellor Schroder's new cabinet - has pledged to seek a phased shut-down of Germany's 19 nuclear power stations. It also plans to step sending spent fuel rods for reprocessing at BNFL's Sellafield complex, which currently holds contracts to handle 1000t of spent fuel.

* Kvaerner ousts chief executive

The chief executive of Anglo-Norwegian contractor Kvaerner, Erik Tonseth, has stepped down after the company's board, concerned about tumbling profits and low share prices, requested his resignation. Christian Bjelland, Kvaerner's current chairman, is to take over as temporary chief executive.

* Fossil fuel levy raises cash

The UK government's fossil fuel levy raised £279million from licensed electricity suppliers in 1997/98, according to electricity regulator Stephen Littlechild. Some 51 per cent went to nuclear generators; the rest to subsidise renewable resources.