The French group invests for long-term growth opportunities and to better serve customers
Air Liquide (Paris:AI) will invest around Rs.350 crores (Euro40 million) in a new Air Separation Unit (ASU) dedicated to Industrial Merchant activities in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh, to supply oxygen to automotive, metal fabrication, heat treatment, photovoltaic, and electronics industries.
Air Liquide said it is committed to continue investing in coming years to accompany the development of India and its growing demand for sustainable solutions.
“The construction of a new plant in Uttar Pradesh is a very important milestone for Air Liquide in India. This new significant investment will give us the ability to better serve our customers, while also investing in the long-term growth opportunities of this key State,” said Pascal Vinet, Senior Vice President and a member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee supervising Europe Industries activities and hubs in Africa, the Middle East and India.
“It also shows our confidence in the sustained growth of the Indian industry. This investment is in line with Air Liquide’s Sustainable Objectives as this ASU is meant to ultimately solely run on renewable energy,” he said on 20 Jan 2022.
The 350 tonne per day plant will support small-and-medium sized customers of liquid and packaged gases in Northern India, and allow Air Liquide to meet the growing demand of the automotive, metal fabrication, heat treatment, photovoltaic, and electronics industries, as well as local hospitals requiring high-purity medical gases.
When commissioned by end of 2023, the Kosi ASU will be the largest liquid gases plant in UP, said Air Liquide India which will build, own and operate the ASU, designed to produce a maximum of 300 tonnes of oxygen per day.
In line with Air Liquide’s Sustainability Objectives, which include reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, the plant has been designed to contribute to a successful energy transition by India. The new unit is indeed planned to fully operate on renewable energy by 2030.
The new ASU will contribute to Air Liquide’s expansion strategy in India, where the Group has been present for more than 30 years. It already owns and operates 4 ASUs in Northern and Western of India and will finalize in 2022 the construction of a 5th ASU in Nagpur (West India).
A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees and serves more than 3.8 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.
Air Liquide’s ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability – with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy. The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.
Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes. fiinews.com
