Air Liquide to build plant in Salt Lake City area

The resurgence of oil and gas drilling and production in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. is creating greater demand for industrial gases from oil and gas customers throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. To meet this demand and leverage additional opportunities in the region, Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP will add to its industrial production capacity by building a new air separation plant in the Salt Lake City area. The plant will have a capacity of 300 tons per day of liquid products. It is scheduled to start up in late 2007.

Etienne Lepoutre, president, Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP says: "Air Liquide has a long history of providing industrial gases to a variety of industries including the booming oil and gas industry in the Rocky Mountain region, starting in the 1960s. The added production from this new facility will allow us to provide the products our diverse customers need to fuel the growth of their businesses."

The new plant will also provide additional nitrogen and oxygen for the dedicated solutions that are offered by Air Liquide to a broad range of markets such as food, pharmaceuticals, automotive, metal fabrication, materials, technology and research.

Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer, Economic Development Corporation of Utah says: "Air Liquide has had a presence in the Provo-Salt Lake City area for the last 40 years and is a good corporate citizen. Air Liquide brings to the area the basic building blocks required for economic growth."