The National Industrial Gases Company (GAS), an affiliate of SABIC has recently awarded two turn-key contracts to the Linde AG of Germany and Linarco Saudi Arabia Ltd. to carry out engineering and construction works of two new air-separation units (ASU) at the Company's complexes in Jubail and Yanbu industrial cities. GAS Chairman Ibrahim Al-Shuweir said, "I expect production to start at these two new plants by April 2008, each having a production capacity of 3,000 metric tons of oxygen per day. These two new ASUs are part of expansion plans in line with SABIC's strategic growth to meet its future production plans, bringing the total annual production capacity to 60 million tons during the next two years". SABIC owns 70% of GAS. A group of national gas companies and establishments own the remaining 30%. GAS started its initial production in 1984 and underwent a series of mega expansion projects to meet SABIC's requirements for industrial gases in Jubail and Yanbu. Also, GAS services are provided to a number of national private sector companies and establishments.
