Linde selected by Gazprom
for major gas processing project in Russia

Engineering and supply contract
for ethane and NGL extraction and helium production units signed
Strategic cooperation agreement with Gazprom concluded

Jan 21, 2016 + + + The technology company The Linde Group has been selected by Gazprom, Gazprom Pererabotka Blagoveshchensk and its general contractor NIPIgas as the licenser for cryogenic gas separation technology at the Amur Gas Processing Plant (Amur GPP), located in the far east of Russia. Linde will engineer and supply units for ethane and natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction and nitrogen rejection, as well as for helium purification, liquefaction and storage.

The plant is part of Gazprom's project for the supply of Russian gas to China via the 'Power of Siberia' pipeline from eastern Siberian gas fields and will be built in five phases ending in 2024.

In late December 2015, Linde and NIPIgas entered into a binding engineering and supply contract in respect of the above-mentioned units for all five construction phases of the Amur GPP. Phase one will consist of two ethane and NGL (propane, butane, pentane, hexane) extraction and nitrogen rejection units, as well as one helium production unit. Related engineering works are in progress. When completed, the Amur GPP will be one of the largest gas processing plants in the world with a capacity of up to 49 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.

Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, and Dr Wolfgang Büchele, Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG, also recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement stipulating the intention to cooperate and jointly carry out existing and future projects related to the natural gas value chain.

"We are delighted to significantly extend our successful business relationship with Gazprom," said Büchele. "Not only will Amur GPP be one of the largest natural gas processing plants in the world, Linde is looking forward to cooperating on projects and technologies which will support Gazprom in its efforts to better market natural gas and its by-products."

The cooperation agreement covers process technologies, engineering and services related to the treatment and liquefaction of natural gas, as well as localisation of the respective equipment production in Russia. Furthermore, the agreement also addresses the field of helium production, including the investment in, production and operation of helium plants.

Linde's Engineering Division has world-class experience across the entire natural gas processing chain, from proprietary process technology to manufacturing specialised, tailor-made cryogenic equipment. This know-how is complemented by a long history of experience in the design and construction of turnkey projects.

In the 2014 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 17.047 bn, making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 65,500 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term, profitable 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. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information about The Linde Group, go to www.linde.com

Source: Matthias Dachwald, Stefan Metz, Dr.Dominik Heger, Bernard Wang
www.linde.com