Category Archives: General

General

World Bank raises forecast for 2015 global crude prices

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Washington – The World Bank is nudging up its 2015 forecast for crude oil prices from 53 dollars in April to 57 dollars per barrel after oil prices rose 17 per cent in the April to June quarter.

The forecast is contained in the bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook released on Wednesday.

The bank said energy prices rose 12 per cent in the quarter, with the surge in oil offset by declines in natural gas and coal prices.

However, it said it expected energy prices to average 39 per cent below 2014 level.

“Natural gas prices are projected to decline across all three main markets including the United States, Europe and Asia.
Continue reading World Bank raises forecast for 2015 global crude prices →

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General

Malaysia is the largest Asian investor in Africa

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Three reasons why we should do business with Singapore. However, Singapore has already reached a developed nation status. Malaysia is still developing (some call it semi-developed, because, absent a few economic indicators, it has all the markings of a developed nation). Therefore, it has more in common with Nigeria. It’s also not Singapore, but Malaysia that has the largest Asian investment in Africa. It’s also Malaysia, not Singapore that sends aids and its people to help Africans. Nigeria will also benefit from how Malaysia is able to keep its cost of living so low; one example, oil prices are 60 percent cheaper in Malaysia than Singapore and Thailand.
Malaysia is ahead of China in terms of the size of its direct foreign investment (FDI) into Africa and the gap is widening. A survey of foreign investment into and out of the five BRICS countries, published on the eve of their summit in South Africa and while new Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the continent, revealed that China’s march into Africa has lagged behind the flow of cash from Kuala Lumpur. In 2011, Malaysia was third largest investor in Africa overall, only behind the United States and France. China came fourth and India fifth.
… France and the Malaysia is ahead of China in terms of the size of its direct foreign investment (FDI) into Africa and the gap is widening United States also have the largest historical stock of investments in Africa,” Reuters reported, “with Britain in third place and Malaysia in fourth, followed by South Africa, China and India.”
India has $14 billion invested in Africa; China 16 billion and Malaysia, $19.3 billion (about 24% of its FDI).

Source: Weekly Trust, April 18th 2015

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General

Billions for Africas Energy

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Energy is a scarce resource in many African countries. It is estimated that less than 40 percent of the inhabitants of the continent have regular access to electricity. Especially bad is the supply of energy sub-saharan region. According to UNESCO, this is the only region in the world, where the absolute amount of people without access to electricity even increases.

To meet this need, even approximately, a major expansion of electricity generation capacity is essential. This would have to rise from 125 gigawatts installed today to an estimated 700 gigawatts in 2040. Many African countries are aware of this problem, already investing heavily in expanding its energy sector, or at least want to start in the near future with it.

Source: www.tube.de

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General

High pressure valves

ARMATUREN-TECHNIK is since its foundation in 1995 under pressure. The company from Oberhausen, Germany designes and produces hight pressure valves for power plant applications according to customer specifications. Shut-off valves, control valves, steam conditioning valves and turbine bypass stations are made of forged steel which endure in high pressure and high temperature environments. “We guarantee a minimum life of 25 years,” explains Manfred Leufgen. “More than twice as much as our competitors. The warranty is twice as long compared to many of our competitors.”

Technically two generations ahead

The CEO of ARMATREN-TECHNIK considers Germany as a leader in power plant construction. “We are technically at least two generations ahead”, Manfred Leufgen is safe for his company. Accordingly the reputation abroad is correspondingly great. The Oberhauseners build their valves in power plants in the Middle East, South America, India, Korea, China and Japan.

In doing so, the foreign customers attach great importance to the fact that the quality is “Made in North Rhine-Westphalia”, but still domestic companies are involved. “We can ensure this local share,” says Manfred Leufgen. For example, the partner companies build the housings of the valves under the guidance of employees of the ARMATUREN-TECHNIK. The know-how remains in Oberhausen. In addition to such project-based partnerships, the specialist for high-pressure valves maintains long-term partnerships.

ARMATUREN-TECHNIK

Based in Oberhausen, Germany, ARMATUREN-TECHNIK is an innovative and “engineering-centered” manufacturer of high pressure valves. The company was founded in 1995 and currently employs 21 people. ARMATUREN-TECHNIK today has cooperation partners and customers across the entire globe. The product portfolio consists of a broad array of standard and tailor-made valves and includes turbine regulation stations, control valves, steam valves, bypass valves, gate valves and check valves.

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