let's get back to fundamentals, page-14

Joewolf,
I think comparisons with Eastern Europe plants may be confusing for a number of reasons. The Solvay plant may be a sub part of an integrated chemical complex, import duties, does it include salt and limestone mines. In addition the price for product is set by the price of the Next Best Alternative,natural ash plus transport cost from the USA.

If you have the chance to question management it would be good to understand the sensitivity between energy price and product cost. For a 1% increase in energy costs how many $/t does this mean to the cost.

It would also be good to get an insight into the plant reinvestment and maintenance costs. I assume up until ICI left in about 1990 the old plant was not only maintained but reinvestment in replacement machinery was taking place at the same rate that they were reaching the end of their serviceable lifes.
I expect the average serviceable life of the machines to about match their depreciable allowance of 20 years for machines and 50 years for buildings.

Regards
Bacci