New joint venture one step closer to deliver one of Middle East's first over the fence gas supplies

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 recognised standards for operation and maintenance.

The cold box is the core element of an Air Separation Unit 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 ¡V and this new contract illustrates that our core skills can be applied in many different industries," said Richard 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 Khalid Hashim.
Under the long term supply agreement, the ASU will supply nitrogen and hydrogen for the production of float glassƒx at EFG's new state-of-the-art plant located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD). The nitrogen and hydrogen facility is expected to be on-stream during the 3rd quarter of 2008 and will include design features allowing for future gas production expansion required for EFG's float glass Phase 2.