SCIPIG to Supply Oxygen and Nitrogen to Bayer Polyurethane Facility in Shanghai, China

SCIPIG to Supply Oxygen and Nitrogen to Bayer Polyurethane Facility in Shanghai, China

September 27, 2006

    
    SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Industrial Gases Company
(SCIPIG), a 50-50 joint venture between Praxair Inc. and
Air Liquide, two leading global suppliers of industrial
gas, has reached an agreement with Bayer MaterialScience to
supply industrial gases to facilities at the Bayer
Integrated Site Shanghai. 

    Under the 15-year industrial gases pipeline supply
contract, SCIPIG will supply oxygen and nitrogen from its
air separation facility, which has a total capacity of
8,250 cubic meters per hour (about 277 tons per day).
Deliveries under the contract are expected to start in
2008. 

    Prior to the contract, SCIPIG, founded in December
2001, had already been awarded major contracts by SECCO,
Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Co., BASF Chemicals Co., Ltd.
(BACH), Huntsman Polyurethane Shanghai Ltd. (HPS), Shanghai
Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co., Ltd., Shanghai Lianheng
Isocyanate Co., Ltd. (SLIC) and Shanghai BASF Polyurethane
Co., Ltd. (SBPC).  With a designed production capacity of
over 100,000 cubic meters per hour (about 1800 tons per
day), SCIPIG ranks as one of the largest industrial gas
production bases in China and all of Asia. Today SCIPIG
provides a complete range of products including oxygen,
nitrogen, compressed air, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and
steam to its customers.

    About Bayer MaterialScience

    Bayer MaterialScience, a part of the Bayer Group, is a
leading global provider of high-tech materials and
innovative system solutions, 2005 sales of 10.7 billion
euros. Its products are used extensively in the automotive,
electrical engineering / electronics, construction, sports
and leisure, as well as in the furniture and lifestyle
industries. It employs more than 18,800 people and has
approximately 40 production sites worldwide. At the Bayer
Integrated Site Shanghai, Bayer is investing US$1.8 billion
till 2009 to establish worldscale facilities for the
production of polyurethanes raw materials, polycarbonates,
and coatings raw materials.  When completed, these will be
among Bayer MaterialScience's most technologically-advanced
and large-scaled facilities globally.  

    About Air Liquide

    Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and
medical gases and related services being present in more
than 70 countries. The Group offers innovative solutions
based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions,
which are consistent with Air Liquide's commitment to
sustainable development, help to protect life and enable
our customers to manufacture many indispensable everyday
products. 

    Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has nearly  36,000
employees and sales in 2005 totaled 10,435 million euros,
with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. The
Group has successfully developed a long-term relationship
with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and
guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the
publication of its first consolidated financial statements
in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings
growth. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange
and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices
(ISIN code FR 0000120073).

    About Praxair 

    With 2005 sales of $7.7 billion, Praxair Inc. (NYSE:
PX) is the largest industrial gases company in North and
South America, and one of the largest worldwide. With
27,000 employees and operations in 40 countries, Praxair
works closely with 1 million customers worldwide to develop
technically innovation and economically efficient business
solutions to meet the changing needs and dynamics of the
market.  Praxair produces, sells and distributes
atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and
high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products,
services and technologies bring productivity and
environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries,
including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage,
electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and
others. For more information, please visit Praxair at
http://www.praxair.com or Praxair China at
http://www.praxair.com.cn .

    For more information, please contact:

     Mr. Derek Wong
     Deputy General Manager,
     Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Industrial Gases Co.
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Ms. Juno Chen
     Communications Manager,
     Praxair Asia
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]
 
SOURCE  Praxair China