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Most regions throughout the world are expected to double their amount of LTE networks in 2012, and in this respect Latin America is no exception, Alan Hadden, president of the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), told BNamericas.

In an update to its “Evolution to LTE” report, the GSA confirmed that 49 LTE operators have now launched services and that 285 operators have committed to the technology – a more than 30% increase from six months ago.

This was largely due to the fact that operators obtained new spectrum.

“LTE seems to be equally applicable to developing markets as developed, mature markets.

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Chilean iron and steel group CAP’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a US$70mn expansion to its Punta Totoralillo port in northern region III has been approved, a source from the environment ministry’s (MMA) regional evaluation office told BNamericas.

The project will increase iron ore capacity at the port’s stockpiling facility by 3Mt/y to 7Mt/y. The port will also be able to handle 1Mt/y of copper concentrate.

Works involve building new reception and storage systems, reinforcing and improving existing docking areas and connecting the new facilities with the port’s loading system.

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Brazil’s chemical industry sales are forecast to jump 23.4% in 2011 to US$159bn, industry association Abiquim said in a release Monday (Dec 12).

In local currency terms, this represents an increase of 15.8%.

Sales of chemical products for industrial use are expected to rise 24.5% to US$76.2bn, while fertilizer sales will jump some 47.5% to US$16.9bn, according to Abiquim.

The trade deficit is expected to hit a record US$25.9bn, widening from US$20.7bn in 2010.

In 2011-16, some US$19.1bn of investments are planned or underway in the chemical products for industrial use sector, the release added.

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Mexican state oil company Pemex’s deepwater ambitions could “die on their own” following the 2012 change in government, unless an oil reform enables new forms of drilling, Mexican energy expert David Shields said at an event in Mexico City.

“In this administration, deepwater has been the fashionable topic. In the energy field, there are many fashions: one day it is petrochemicals, the next it is the energy reform, today they are talking about shale, and we go from one fashion to the other. And I think the fashion of deepwater could easily die,” Shields said.

Pemex has focused on ramping up deepwater exploration during Mexican President Felipe Calderуn’s administration, which began in 2006.

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Brazilian chemical production slipped 0.16% in October from the prior month due to a weakening in internal demand, chemical industry association Abiquim reported Thursday.

When compared with September, domestic sales were down 7.91% in October, while demand fell 5.38% and import volumes dropped 15.9%.

In January-October, production was nearly 4% lower than in the same period of 2010, with domestic sales down 3.49% and capacity utilization down 3 percentage points at 81%. Domestic demand in the period increased 9.45% year-on-year, which was met by a 27.7% rise in imports.

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Panama’s state transmission company Etesa has awarded contracts to supply energy to distributors Ensa and Edechi from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2024, BNamericas has learned.

The winners of call number 03-11 are Paso Ancho Hydro Power and Hidroecolуgica del Teribe, according to an Etesa resolution.

Paso Ancho and Hidroecolуgica submitted offers of US$99.90/MWh and US$109.88/MWh, respectively, the lowest proposals of the 38 generators that submitted bids. Other offers ranged from US$114.80/MWh to US$871.22/MWh.

The distributors and power suppliers now are authorized to sign the respective contracts. <

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Demand for chemical products in Brazil will be worth US$260bn by 2020, up US$115bn from current figures, Fernando Figueiredo, president of national chemical industry association Abiquim, told delegates at the 31st annual Latin American petrochemical association (APLA) meeting in Buenos Aires.

Major investments by the national petrochemical industry are required in order to narrow Brazil’s growing trade deficit in chemical products, Figueiredo said.

The executive forecasts investment opportunities in chemicals from renewable sources to be worth US$20bn, while opportunities for chemicals based on feedstock are pegged at US$15bn as a result of recent offshore oil discoveries.

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