The Linde Group has been selected to supply air gases to Dahua Group on Songmu Island in Dalian, Northeast China. Dahua Group is wholly owned by Dalian State Assets Administration Committee, with 33 subsidiaries in China. Set up in 1933, it is the earliest and today one the biggest basic chemical material and fertilizer producers in China.

Linde will be investing around EUR 70 million in the project. Under the terms of this on-site agreement, it acquires the customer’s two existing air separation units (ASUs) in Dalian, and will operate these. In addition, Linde’s Engineering Division will build a new ASU on site with a production capacity of 38,000 normal cubic metres of oxygen per hour. Scheduled to go on stream in 2014, the new ASU will replace the two older plants, also meeting rising demand for gaseous oxygen at Dahua’s operations. It will also produce surplus liquid gases for the regional market.

As part of the contract agreement, the upgraded gas production facility will be jointly managed by a newly formed 50:50 joint venture gases company between Linde and Dahua. Linde-Dahua (Dalian) Gases Company, Ltd. will as well offer industrial gaseous and liquid products and provide relevant engineering services to the neighbouring industrial hubs.

• Linde AG, Munich, Germany