New Joint Venture One Step Closer to Delivering One of Middle East's First Over-the-Fence Gas Supplies
January 21 2008 - 11:14AM
PR Newswire (US)
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products
is to ship a cold box, key equipment for an air separation unit
(ASU), to reach the port of Abu Dhabi at the end of February 2008.
This shipment is the main stage of a project by the joint venture
between the Abdullah Hashim Group (AHG) and Air Products to build,
operate and maintain a new ASU and a hydrogen production facility
for Emirates Float Glass Company (EFG) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates. The new plant will be the first over-the-fence gas supply
in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, and one of the first in the
Middle East. The newly set-up UAE joint venture between Air
Products and Abdullah Hashim Group combines Air Products'
technology and the regional know-how and experience of the Abdullah
Hashim Group, and will deliver projects following Air Products'
globally recognized standards for operation and maintenance. The
cold box is the core element of an ASU and enables the air to be
cooled so that it can be separated into different gases. The cold
box and other cryogenic equipment are being manufactured at Air
Products' facility in Acrefair, North Wales, UK. "We are very
excited to bring this project one step closer," explains Richard
Boocock, vice president, Tonnage Gases, Equipment & Energy, Air
Products Europe & Middle East. "We bring extensive worldwide
experience in designing, constructing and operating ASUs, and will
provide globally proven in-house nitrogen cryogenic distillation
technology. Our partner, AHG, has unrivalled Middle East project
management expertise and extensive liquid gases back-up
capabilities in the gulf region." "Our joint venture enables us to
offer the highest standards of nitrogen and hydrogen supply safety,
reliability, product purity and power efficiency," adds Khalid
Hashim, managing director of AHG. Air Products has operated a
helium and cylinder gases filling and distribution facility in the
Jebel Ali Free Zone in UAE since 1990, and strengthened its
presence in the Middle East with the opening of its office in Doha,
Qatar last year. "With leading positions in the Middle East in key
markets such as LNG, GTL and refineries, we are now looking at
expanding our presence in new sectors -- and this new contract
illustrates that our core skills can be applied in many different
industries," said Boocock. "We are proud to be part of a project of
such strategic importance to both Emirates Float Glass Company and
the United Arab Emirates' industrial development. This project
supports the growing high demand from the construction market in
the UAE," adds Hashim. Under the long-term supply agreement, the
ASU will supply nitrogen and hydrogen for the production of float
glass* at EFG's new state-of-the-art plant located in the
Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. The nitrogen and hydrogen facility is
expected to be on-stream during the third quarter of 2008 and will
include design features allowing for future gas production
expansion required for EFG's float glass Phase 2. About Air
Products Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial,
energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique
portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases,
performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940,
Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such
as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare
services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and
adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture,
operational excellence and commitment to safety and the
environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion,
operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the
globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com/.
About Abdullah Hashim Group AHG is a company of Abudullah Hashim
Group. The Abdullah Hashim Group is a privately-owned Saudi company
which has been in business for more than half a century. Turnover
exceeds USD 450MM, and it employs more than 1700 people. The
group's activities are in three main areas -- the import and
distribution of industrial and automotive vehicles and equipment,
including the agency for Honda cars and motorcycles in Saudi
Arabia; the distribution of welding equipment and related supplies;
and the manufacture and distribution of a wide range of industrial
and medical gases, from four production plants and seven
distribution centres. Its industrial gases activities include the
distribution of welding equipment and related supplies; and the
manufacture and distribution of a wide range of industrial and
medical gases, from four production plants and seven distribution
centres. Abdullah Hashim Gases offer Project Engineering
infrastructure including project design and installation, as well
as extensive regional operation support and back-up liquid gases
distribution. http://www.ahg.com.sa/. About Emirates Float Glass
Company Emirates Float Glass Company is established to produce
high-quality glass for the architectural, automotive and other
markets. The company is located in Abu Dhabi in a beautiful
picturesque location and is majority-owned by Dubai Investment
PJSC. Its plant located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, will
have a daily production capacity of 600 tons of glass. The
investment initiative is supported by credible investors from GCC
region to eventually emerge as the largest glass conglomerate in
the MENA region in future. *** NOTE: This release may contain
forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially,
due to changes in current expectations. * The float process
produces a ribbon of nearly perfect glass by "floating" molten
glass on a bath of liquid tin. DATASOURCE: Air Products CONTACT:
Media Inquiries: (Europe) Guenaelle Holloway, +44 1932 249 245, ,
or (U.S.) Art George, +1-610-481-1340, ; or Investor Inquiries:
Nelson Squires, +1-610-481-7461, , all of Air Products Web site:
http://www.airproducts.com/ http://www.ahg.com.sa/
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