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Technology Stocks : Ballard Power -world leader zero-emission PEM fuel cells
BLDP 2.780+0.5%Jan 6 3:59 PM EST
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To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (939)9/21/1997 2:59:00 PM
From: zigler   of 5827
 
Sid: There is a large lobby against MTBE largly sponsered by companies with competitive products such as ethanol. Yes, if MTBE was banned it would not be good for methanol producers. However, the total percentage of methanol used as a fuel is 32% which would include methanol as a direct fuel as well as MTBE. I do not have any numbers on what percentage MTBE is alone, but doubt that it would be in the majority.

Sid said, "Speaking of safety, I wouldn't bet that Methanex and its competitors will even be in business eight years from now. This has the potential to be another one of those never ending litigation problems(remember asbestos? breast implants? tobacco?) that has bankrupted many far wealthier companies in the last ten years."

Methanex does NOT make or distribute MTBE. It supplies methanol to manufacturers of MTBE. Even if there was litigation, Methanex should be safe with the owners of leaking tanks and gasoline manufacturers being held reponsible along with government regulators. Holding Methanex responsible is like holding tobacco farmers liable for cancer (probably even more far fetched).

It is Methanex's belief that MTBE will not be banned. There are as many reports and probably more that atest to the safety and benefits of MTBE. The problem with MTBE is leaking tanks not MTBE. Under regulations, all these tanks will be removed from service in the next year or so. The incidents of contaminated wells in California is relatively small and can be traced to some reservoirs and leaking fuel tanks.
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