New hydrogen and carbon monoxide major contract in China

SCIPIG will invest in a Steam Methane Reformer (hydrogen unit) designed and built by Lurgi, Air Liquide subsidiary, and in a carbon monoxide unit, which will be built and commissioned by the Engineering and Construction teams of Air Liquide. The total production capacity will be around 130,000 tonnes per year. Those units will be commissioned at the beginning of 2012.

Hydrogen and carbon monoxide will be supplied to meet the requirements of Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai in Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park in Caojing, on the outskirts of Shanghai.

Prior to these contracts, SCIPIG was already supplying oxygen and nitrogen from its air separation unit to meet the needs of various users at the Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai. With this carbon monoxide and hydrogen supply agreement, SCIPIG has further strengthened its relationship with BPUS.

Jean-Pierre Duprieu, Senior Vice-President Asia-Pacific and a member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, declared: "This contract is a new stage in SCIPIG's position and development in this fast-expanding region of Shanghai, especially in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. It also marks the reinforcement of our partnership with Bayer and illustrates the Group's capacity to support its customers everywhere in the world. Emerging Economies are a growth driver of the Air Liquide Group."
The Large Industries business line of Air Liquide proposes gas and energy solutions to the world’s industrial companies to improve the efficiency of their processes and help them achieve greater respect for the environment. Its main markets are:
- refining and natural gas: hydrogen to desulphurise fuels and “break up” hydrocarbons, and oxygen to gasify oil residues…
- chemicals: air-gases, hydrogen and carbon monoxide used for manufacturing PVC, for example…
- metals: oxygen to improve energy performance and reduce emissions, and argon to manufacture stainless steel…
- energy: oxygen to transform coal and natural gas into fuel or liquid chemical products…
2008 revenue was €3.675 billion.

SCIPIG Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park Industrial Gases Company SCIPIG) is a 50-50 joint venture between Praxair Inc. and Air Liquide.
It has been a partner of Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) since its creation in 2001. SCIPIG operates already one large Air Separation Unit and one large hydrogen and carbon monoxide unit. With a designed production capacity of over 200,000 m3/h of various industrial gases, SCIPIG ranks as one of the largest industrial gas network in China and all of Asia. Today, with around sixty employees, SCIPIG provides a complete range of products including nitrogen, oxygen, compressed air, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and steam to its customers.

Air Liquide in China
Air Liquide began operating in China in the early 20th century, and returned in the 1970s to supply air separation units. In 1990, Air Liquide began to set up gas operations and invest in production facilities in China.
Currently, Air Liquide employs more than 2,500 people and its operations are located in many of China’s key industrial areas including Beijing/Tianjin/Liaoning/Shandong in the north, Shanghai/Jiangsu/ Zhejiang/Anhui in the east, and expanding to Sichuan/Hubei/Shaanxi and Guangdong in the west and south.





Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 43,000 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.
Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections… Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.
A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide’s teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.
Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its sustainable development approach. In 2008, the Group’s revenues amounted to €13.1 billion, of which almost 80% were earned outside France. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.