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Accounting policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013
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 lease term
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, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
|  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
Method |  | Retail |  | Bulk |  | Services |  | Retail |  | Bulk |  | Services |
Discounted cash flow |  | 50 | % | 50 | % |  |  | 20 | % | 30 | % |  |
Subject company stock price |  | 30 | % | 30 | % |  |  | 60 | % | 50 | % | 10 | %
Guideline public company |  | 10 | % | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % | 10 | % |  |
Mergers and acquisitions |  | 10 | % | 10 | % |  |  | 10 | % | 10 | % |  |
Net asset value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 | %
|  | 100 | % | 100 | % |  |  | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | %

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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for schedule of property plant and equipment useful life. + References No definition available. + Details
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