Air Liquide Signs a New Long-term Contract with Xinneng Energy

SHANGHAI, Jan. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Air Liquide recently signed a new long-term contract with Xinneng Energy Company, a subsidiary of ENN Ecological Holdings Company (ENN). Under the terms of the new agreement, Air Liquide will invest more than 60 million euros in an ASU (Air Separation Unit), with a total capacity of 2,700 tonnes of oxygen per day.

Expected to start operations in the second quarter of 2018, the new ASU will supply industrial gases including oxygen and nitrogen to ENN Ecological Holdings Company. The gases will be used in the customer's Light Hydrocarbon Project, which produces 200,000 tonnes per year of light hydrocarbon, a chemical product widely used in the energy industry.

The ASU, located in ENN's industrial park in Dalateqi of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, will be built by
Air Liquide's Engineering and Construction teams using state-of-the-art technologies to offer energy efficiency as well as optimal reliability and safety, and will be owned and operated by Air Liquide.

Zhao Yifeng, CEO of ENN Ecological Holdings Company, commented: "By combining our own innovative technologies with the leading technologies and international expertise from Air Liquide, we ensure the improved energy efficiency of the project. With this project as a start, we look forward to enhancing the cooperation with Air Liquide in the near future."

Francois Venet, Vice-President, Asia Pacific and a member of Air Liquide group's Executive Committee, commented: "We are honored to be a partner for this significant project. By leveraging our existing resources, as well as our experience in Inner Mongolia and Western China, we will support the flawless development and operation of this project."

Air Liquide China
operates nearly 90 plants and employs about 4,500 employees with a strong presence in the key coastal industrial areas, and is expanding into the center, south and west. Its main business activities include industrial and medical gas operations, as well as Engineering & Construction (designing, manufacturing and installing air separation units/hydrogen facilities).

The Large Industries business line of Air Liquide
offers gas and energy solutions that improve process efficiency and help achieve greater respect for the environment, mainly in the refining and natural gas, chemicals, metals and energy markets. In 2014, revenues were Euro 4,980 million.

The Engineering and Construction activity (Global E&C Solutions)
The Engineering and Construction activity (Global E&C Solutions) builds the Group's production units – mainly air separation units (ASUs) and hydrogen production units – and provides plants for third-party customers.

About Air Liquide Group

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with more than 50,000 employees and serves more than 2 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide's ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly.

Air Liquide ideas create value over the long term. At the core of the company's development are the commitment and constant inventiveness of its people.

Air Liquide anticipates the challenges of its markets, invests locally and globally, and delivers high-quality solutions to its customers and patients, and the scientific community.

The company relies on competitiveness in its operations, targeted investments in growing markets and innovation to deliver profitable growth over the long-term.

Air Liquide's revenues amounted to Euro 15.4 billion in 2014, and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. 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.

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160122/0861600705