press release - Air Liquide Creative Oxygen

Paris, October 2, 2008
Further investments in India and Malaysia
to accompany growth
press release
Contacts:
Corporate Communication
Corinne Estrade-Bordry
+ 33 (0)1 40 62 51 31
Investor Relations
Virginia Jeanson
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 37
Aude Rodriguez
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 18
Air Liquide in India
Air Liquide has been present in India since
1996, and has two activities: Engineering
with the Engineering and Construction
division ALEI to design and install Air
Separation Units and Lurgi to design and
install petrochemical and gasification units,
and the Gas division supplying oxygen,
nitrogen, argon and hydrogen mainly
dedicated to the steel, petrochemical,
glass, automobile, pharmaceutical and
other industrial markets. Located in New
Delhi, Hyderabad and Vadodara, Air
Liquide in India employs over 700 people
with revenue in 2007 of around €50 million.
Air Liquide in Malaysia
The oil, gas and petrochemical sectors are fast growing markets in India and South East
Asia.
India’s $70-billion petrochemical market, poised to grow at over 10% per annum, is
one of the fastest growing petrochemical markets in the world. Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil), India’s energy flagship, is building a world-scale Naphtha
Cracker complex adjacent to its existing 12 mmpta (million metric tonnes per annum)
refinery, at Panipat, near Delhi in North India. For this project, IndianOil has decided to
outsource its oxygen and nitrogen gas requirements with a long-term contract with Air
Liquide.
In this context, Air Liquide is investing €45 million in a new Air Separation Unit
(ASU) with capacity of 850 tonnes per day of oxygen. The unit will also produce
liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon to meet the requirements of IndianOil and the
industrial merchant market in northern India. It will be built by Air Liquide Engineering
India and is scheduled to be commissioned by July 2009.
In Malaysia, Air Liquide will invest €30 million in a new ASU for Malaysian Refining
Company Sdn. Bhd. (MRC), a joint-venture company owned by Petronas and
ConocoPhillips. Petronas is one of the most profitable integrated oil and gas companies
in the region and has been the catalyst for Malaysia’s industrial development. To expand
the refinery’s capacity and improve productivity, MRC will revamp its refinery, which will
lead to additional oxygen needs in mid-2009. MRC has chosen Air Liquide to supply
oxygen from October 2009. Air Liquide’s ASU will also produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen
and argon to meet the requirements of the Malaysian merchant market and Air Liquide
Malaysia’s growth plans.
Air Liquide was present in Malaysia from
1978 to 2007, when the Group decided to
sell to Linde its 16.6% share of Malaysian
Oxygen (MOX).
Jean-Pierre DUPRIEU, Senior Vice-President in charge of Asia Pacific and member of
Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, declared: “We are very proud to have been
selected by IndianOil and MRC as a key partner for the supply of oxygen and
nitrogen. These successes confirm Air Liquide’s leading position in northern India
and our further expansion in Malaysia. These investments are driven by the
Air Liquide is now investing in this
promising market through its 100%
subsidiary, in a quicker and more
integrated way.
trend towards the outsourcing of industrial gas needs and are in line with the
Group’s growth strategy, which includes accelerating its investments in
emerging economies.”
www.airliquide.com
Indian Oil, Panipat
MRC, Melacca
With more than 40,000 employees in 75 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in
industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions
based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen,
argon, rare gases…) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes
to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages,
protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultrapure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...
Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in
1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders
built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance.
Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has
posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros,
with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock
exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code
FR 0000120073).
www.airliquide.com