Linde to construct nitrous oxide gas production plant in Asan, Chungcheongnam-Do

• Linde to build the largest nitrous oxide (N₂O) plant in South Korea
• Plant targeted to come on-stream by December 2012, supporting Korean electronics and healthcare industry with stable N₂O supply
• Import substitution effect worth more than USD150 million to Korean industry in the next decade

Seoul, Korea, 6 October 2011 – Linde Korea, a member of The Linde Group, announced that it will construct a new 5,200 tons per annum nitrous oxide gas production plant in the Asan Industrial Complex for Foreign Companies. Once completed, Linde's new nitrous oxide (N₂O) plant will be the largest such plant in South Korea. Construction will commence next year and the plant is targeted to come on-stream by December 2012. The Linde Group is a worldwide market leader in the construction of nitrous oxide plants.

Linde Korea's new plant will manufacture and supply ultra high purity nitrous oxide (N₂O) gas required in the electronics manufacturing and healthcare industries. In addition to meeting growing domestic demand from customers, the plant will also produce gas product for export to nearby countries including China and Taiwan.

Brett Kimber, President of Linde Korea said, "Linde Korea is committed to standing firm as a leader in the gases and engineering sector through continuous investment and innovation. The construction of our new nitrous oxide gas production plant opens another chapter of growth for Linde in Korea as it enables us to extend stable supplies of ultra high purity nitrous oxide gas to our customers, supporting their growth and bolstering their export competitiveness. Our latest plant will also add to The Linde Group's contributions to South Korea as it will make the country self-sufficient in nitrous oxide production and is expected to enable South Korea to capture over USD 150 million of import substitution value over the next ten years."

Mr Yun Chan Soo, a Chungcheongnam-do Foreign Investment Promotions team official said, "Linde Korea's new ultra high purity N₂O production plant will be massively important for the Chungnam Asan area as it will help to ensure a local and stable source of N₂O which is a critical input for the production of semiconductors and related products." He emphasized that "Linde will receive full support from Chungcheongnam-do for the successful construction of its production plant, and Chungnam Asan will continue to develop and become a major centre for the global semiconductor and display technology industry."

About Linde Korea
Linde Korea, a member of The Linde Group, manufactures and distributes industrial, specialty and medical gases, and provides a range of related services including the installation of gas equipment, pipelines, on site plants and associated engineering services. Linde Korea operates in 8 locations across South Korea and is committed to delivering quality and reliable services that create value for our customers.

For more information, see Linde Korea's website at http://www.lindekorea.com

About The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 49,100 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of 12.868 billion euro. 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.

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

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