Air Products to Build New Hydrogen Plant in Malaysia for Oleochemical Industry

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Apr 06, 2010, 10:52 ET

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD), the leading global hydrogen provider, today announced it is building a new hydrogen production facility in West Port, Selangor, Malaysia to support increasing product demand in the region. The steam methane reformer (SMR) will have a hydrogen production capacity of more than 1.5 million standard cubic feet per day and is projected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011. It will supply high purity hydrogen and steam to its on-site customer and also supply the fast growing merchant hydrogen market in central Malaysia.

"The new facility will increase our production capacity in West Port and strengthen Air Products' leading hydrogen position in Malaysia," said Douglas Hayes, vice president and general manager of Asia Tonnage at Air Products. "Our customers in this region have growing businesses, and they expect their hydrogen supplier to grow with them and continue to provide them with reliable supply."

Air Products has a long history of operation in Malaysia and is a leading hydrogen supplier in the country with hydrogen facilities in West Port, Banting and Kuantan. The new facility will be Air Products' second hydrogen plant in West Port.

The hydrogen produced by the SMR is used by a variety of industries including oleochemical manufacturers who produce fatty alcohols, fatty acid and methyl esters. Ultimately these products are used to manufacture surfactants and derivatives for a variety of end use markets including cosmetics, toiletries, detergents, plasticizers, lubricants and disinfectants.

An hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur and located along the Straits of Malacca, West Port is well connected to the rest of Malaysia and has positioned itself as the destination for container vessels plying the world's busiest shipping lanes. It is not only a leading port in Southeast Asia, but also one of the top five ports in the world in terms of productivity.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) 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. In fiscal 2009, Air Products had revenues of $8.3 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

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

SOURCE Air Products