LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- An Air Products joint venture company based in Sichuan, China has signed an agreement to build an air separation unit (ASU) for PetroChina Company Limited, one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. The ASU will supply oxygen and nitrogen to PetroChina's main refinery and ethylene complex in Sichuan, as well as produce liquid products for Air Products' merchant gases customers in the Chengdu area. The ASU is to be on-stream in late 2011.

"This is a key project for Air Products which allows us to continue to grow both our on-site and merchant supply presence in China. We appreciate the fact that PetroChina has put its trust in Air Products to form a partnership and supply the industrial gases to its new Sichuan refinery and ethylene complex," said Phil Sproger, vice president-Business Development for Asia at Air Products.

Chengdu Air and Gas Products Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Air Products' wholly-owned subsidiary, Prodair Corporation, and PetroChina Sichuan Petrochemical Co., Ltd., a joint venture between PetroChina Company Limited and Chengdu government, will build the ASU in Sichuan province, China. The new ASU will be designed and built primarily by Air Products' engineering center in Shanghai and its cryogenic manufacturing center in Caojing, near Shanghai.

PetroChina, one of the companies with the biggest sales revenues in China, plays a leading role in the oil and gas industry in China as its largest oil and gas producer and distributor. PetroChina was established as a joint stock company with limited liabilities by China National Petroleum Corporation in 1999.

Sproger noted that this ASU fits well with Air Products' strategic plan, and allows its merchant industrial gas business to continue expanding in China. This announcement follows closely Air Products' Sept. 10 announcement about plans to purchase and operate four existing air separation units and build a new ASU, to be on-stream in March 2011, to supply industrial gases to Xingtai Iron and Steel Corporation, Ltd., one of China's largest specialty steel manufacturers located in Hebei province, China.

About Air Products

Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products had fiscal 2008 revenues of $10.4 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 21,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About PetroChina

PetroChina is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. PetroChina is engaged in a broad range of oil and natural gas activities including the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas; refining, transportation, storage and marketing of crude oil and oil products; production and marketing of primary petrochemical products, derivative chemical products and other chemical products; and transportation of natural gas, crude oil and refined products. Additional information on PetroChina is available at the Company's website: www.petrochina.com.cn.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

SOURCE Air Products