BOC Pakistan announces Rs100 million

PAKISTAN, (September 1st, 2008) - Pakistan’s leading industrial gases company, BOC Pakistan Limited has announced an investment of over Rs 100 million (approximately Euros 900,000) for the installation of a nitrous oxide (N2O) plant at Multan with an annual capacity of 325,000 Kgs. The company currently operates a 60TPD (tonnes per day) carbon dioxide (CO2) manufacturing facility at this Multan site.

BOC Pakistan Limited which has operated in Pakistan since its inception owns and operates various air separation units, CO2, dissolved acetylene, N20, other gases compression facilities and welding electrode manufacturing plants.

"This is one of more investment tranches to come in BOC Pakistan, reinforcing our aggressive growth and investment strategy and commitment to the Pakistan market. This new project is scheduled to be commissioned by early 2009,” country head, Ayaz Bokhari, said in a statement today.

This latest announcement is in addition to the already announced investment of Rs. 214 million (Euros 2 million) in January this year to expand our existing CO2 business. It is also reflective of our commitment to serve our customers and industry sectors in the most effective manner. BOC Pakistan Limited is proud to have more than 3000 customers on its portfolio including customers in the glass and steel sectors, oil and gas exploration, chemicals, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, hospitals and a host of various welding and cutting applications. BOC Pakistan Limited is proud to be a strategic business partner and solution provider to all these industries since 1938 when we first commenced our operations in Lahore.

BOC Pakistan Limited is a member of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company with more than 50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2007 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.3 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based and sustainable 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 web site at www. linde.com

Contact:
Farried Shaikh
BOC Pakistan Limited
Marketing Manager
Farried.Shaikh@bocpakistan.com

Stefan Metz
The Linde Group
Corporate Communications
Stefan.Metz@linde.com