Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 28 /Trend/
Air Liquide has just signed a long-term contract with the petrochemical Group PETKIM.
Turkey has a dynamic economy with a growth rate of 9% in 2010. Its industries are developing and diversifying, and the petrochemical sector shows promise.
Air Liquide has just signed a long-term contract with the petrochemical Group PETKIM, related to the supply of oxygen, nitrogen and compressed air for the Aliaga site in the Izmir region in the western part of the country.
Air Liquide will acquire PETKIM's three air gas production units in Aliaga, with a total production capacity of nearly 400 tonnes of oxygen per day, and also invest in a new YangO₂ production unit with a capacity of 400 tonnes of oxygen per day. This unit will be designed and built by Air Liquide's Engineering teams and is expected to be commissioned in the 2nd half of 2013. Air Liquide will also produce liquid gases for other industries operating in the Izmir region.
Air Liquide's total overall investment amounts to more than €60 million.
The PETKIM Group leads the Turkish petrochemical industry. Founded in 1965, PETKIM now has 14 units at its Aliaga site producing chemical products used in the manufacture of plastic materials and textiles, among other things. SOCAR Turcas, PETKIM's biggest shareholder, has announced plans to build a new refinery with a production capacity of 10 million tons a year at the PETKIM site. Air Liquide will also be supplying the future refinery with nitrogen.
Hayati Öztürk, General Manager, PETKIM, said: "The partnership with Air Liquide, the world leader in its sector, is consistent with our "PETKIM Value Site" vision, which seeks to establish an integrated petrochemical park in Aliaga similar to other industrial basins around the world. We are delighted with the outcome of what we see as a major stage in our development."
Augustin de Roubin, Vice-President South and Eastern Europe of the Air Liquide Group and member of the Executive Committee, commented: "We are very pleased that the PETKIM Group with its shareholder SOCAR Turcas has chosen Air Liquide to fulfill its industrial gas-related needs under this long-term partnership. This new investment will complement our presence in the Ankara region of Turkey. These recent developments represent a major step for Air Liquide in this dynamic country, where we plan to reinforce our presence in the coming years. Developing economies are one of the Group's growth drivers."
Air Liquide established its presence in Turkey in 2010 by investing in a new oxygen and liquid nitrogen production unit located in the Ankara region. Air Liquide has also signed a contract with the ODTÜ University (Technological University of the Middle East) related to its photovoltaic research laboratory (GÜNAM). The Group will supply the University with special and ultra pure gases as well as implementation facilities to manufacture solar cells.