Air Liquide announces the start-up of its global-scale hydrogen production site in Yanbu Industrial City, on the West coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Announced in 2010, this investment of more than 350 million euros represents both the largest industrial investment and largest "over the fence"1 hydrogen contract of the Group.

In the context of a long-term agreement, Air Liquide Arabia will supply hydrogen to the new YASREF refinery (a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Sinopec) located in Yanbu, one of the main industrial areas of the country and a high growth area for refining and petrochemicals. YASREF is the largest refinery in the region and will process 400,000 barrels of heavy crude oil per day. Hydrogen will allow the reduction of the sulfur content of the produced fuels, and meet the environmental standards for cleaner transportation fuels.

With two global-scale hydrogen production units and one purification unit, the Air Liquide site has a total hydrogen capacity of 340,000 Nm³/hour. The production will ramp up, according to the needs of YASREF, during the course of 2015.

The units were designed and built by Air Liquide Engineering & Construction teams using proprietary technology. Construction of the complex is characterized by an excellent safety record with over 6.2 million hours worked with zero lost time accidents. Its start-up illustrates Air Liquide's capacity to execute very large projects on time and on budget.

This new project also demonstrates Air Liquide's capacity to deliver reliable, energy efficient and competitive industrial gas supply solutions that enable its customers to concentrate on their core business.

The presence of significant industries such as refining or petrochemical in the industrial basin of Yanbu will allow Air Liquide to further develop and optimize the hydrogen supply to its customers in this region.

With the start-up of these new units, the Group's hydrogen production capacity increases by close to 20%.

Pierre Dufour, Senior Executive Vice-President of the Air Liquide Group, said: "This new global-scale project reinforces our strategic presence in the Middle East, where we continue to develop our industrial gas infrastructure. The decision by such a large refinery to outsource its hydrogen production is a first in the Middle East, and representative of a growing trend in the region. Thanks to its technologies and operational know-how, Air Liquide offers its customers high value-added solutions that contribute to their competitiveness in the long run."

1 Over the fence: build, own and operate contract

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Air Liquide Arabia

is a joint venture company incorporated in 2008 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between Air Liquide and a prominent Saudi company, Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA).

The Large Industries business line of Air Liquide

offers gas and energy solutions that improve process efficiency and help achieve greater respect for the environment, mainly in the refining and natural gas, chemicals, metals and energy markets. In 2014, revenues were €4,980 million.

The Engineering and Construction activity (Global E&C Solutions) builds the Group's production units - mainly air separation units (ASUs) and hydrogen production units - and provides plants for third-party customers.

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