New developments in Vietnam

With GDP expansion expected to reach nearly 5% in 2009, Vietnam enjoys a robust economic backdrop that favours industrial development. The industrial gas market in Vietnam supports traditional industrial sectors such as steel, glass, construction, chemicals and automobile, but also high technologies. Air Liquide, the historical leader in North Vietnam, is currently undergoing new developments in the southern regions of the country.

Air Liquide announces the commissioning of two Air Separation Units (ASU) in South Vietnam. The first ASU is based in the Saigon High Tech Park where Air Liquide has signed a long-term contract with one of the world’s leaders in the semi-conductor industry, and will be supplying gaseous nitrogen to this customer's largest assembly and test unit. This ASU will be able to produce 100 tonnes per day of liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon for the region’s customers.

The second ASU, located in the Phu My industrial park, one of South Vietnam’s main industrial parks and located near Ho Chi Minh City, has just been commissioned. Air Liquide supplies air gases and hydrogen by pipeline to steel customers. This ASU has a production capacity of 190 tonnes per day of liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon in addition to gaseous nitrogen production.

Investments of the Group in these ASUs and the related supply chain total nearly €30 million.

In addition, Air Liquide is strengthening its leading position with another recent success in the north. The Group will deliver to HQCEC - Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation - Vinachem being the user - Vietnam National Chemical Corporation - a unit with capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day, designed and built by the Engineering teams of Air Liquide Hangzhou. When this unit, operated by Vinachem, based in Ninh Binh 90 km north of Hanoi, starts up at the beginning of 2012, it will be the largest ASU in Vietnam.

Jean-Pierre Duprieu, Senior Vice-President Asia-Pacific and a member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, declared: "With four ASUs covering two main industrial basins in the north and the south, and the largest installed production capacity in the country, the Group confirms its leadership ambition in Vietnam. Air Liquide is proud to contribute to the growth of this country's economy and recently received the first Golden FDI Award (Foreign Direct Investment) from the Vietnamese government, which recognizes the top performing foreign companies in Vietnam.
With nearly 90 million inhabitants, Vietnam represents a significant market for Air Liquide. Emerging economies remain a growth driver for the Group."