Linde expands gas supply infrastructure for leading polysilicon supplier GCL in China

* Total investment value of around EUR 30 million
* Reliable supply of high-purity hydrogen for polysilicon production

Munich - The technology group The Linde Group is set to further expand its gas supply infrastructure for GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, China’s largest producer of highly purified polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). Building on the existing contract with GCL, this deal will entail an additional investment to the tune of EUR 15 million. Polysilicon is used primarily in the solar industry. Under the terms of the new agreement, recently signed by both partners, Linde will construct additional production and supply facilities for high-purity hydrogen (H2) at the Xuzhou Industrial Park. Earlier this year, Linde already put two steam reformers into operation. Linde supplies GCL with H2 from these reformers by pipeline. This latest project brings Linde’s investment commitment to GCL’s gas supply infrastructure in Xuzhou to around EUR 30 million.

“This expansion deal is the next installment in a successful relationship established between both companies to secure a flow of high-purity hydrogen for the production of polysilicon,” explains Dr Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. “The new on-site contract underscores not only our leading position on the Chinese gases market, but also our customers’ confidence in our in-depth expertise in renewable energies.”

The two new facilities are set to go on stream mid 2011, doubling existing hydrogen capacity to meet GCL-Poly’s projected rise in demand for gases as it increases capacity at Xuzhou.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited is China’s largest and one of the world’s leading suppliers of polysilicon. The company is also a pioneer for green energy in China. GCL Solar, a member of the GCL Group, will produce around 21,000 tonnes of polysilicon a year by the end of 2010. GCL Solar has also started constructing solar-cell production facilities which should have a capacity of one gigawatt by the end of 2010.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its share­holders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

In Greater China, Linde is headquartered in Shanghai and has around 50 wholly-owned companies and joint ventures, and more than 150 operational plants in major industrial hubs across the country, with around 2,600 employees.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com