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Accounting policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Schedule Of Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Table Text Block] | Rates are determined based on the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Buildings | 5 to 40 years
Plant and equipment | 4 to 40 years
Distribution system | 3 to 40 years
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment | 3 to 10 years
Vehicles | 3 to 10 years
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of 5 years or operating lease term outstanding
Lab equipment | 5 to 10 years
Estimated Fair Value Of Reporting Segment [Table Text Block] | The respective weightings the Company applied to each method for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Method |  | Retail |  |  | Bulk |  |  | Services |  |  | Retail |  |  | Bulk |  |  | Services |
Discounted cash flow |  |  | 20 | % |  |  | 30 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 20 | %
Subject company stock price |  |  | 60 | % |  |  | 50 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 40 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 80 | %
Guideline public company |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 | % |  |  | 40 | % |  |  |  |
Mergers and acquisitions |  |  | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 | % |  |  | 40 | % |  |  |  |
Net asset value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | %

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