Linde to invest at least RM600m in Malaysia

Linde says the company's Southeast Asian market has been enjoying a double-digit growth and Malaysia is one of the key contributors.


INDUSTRIAL gas supplier Linde Malaysia Sdn Bhd plans to invest at least RM600 million in Malaysia over the next five years.

The company has invested RM625 million in the past five years and now has over 60 plants and 20 sales centres in the country.

Linde Malaysia, which was formerly known as MOX-Linde Gases Sdn Bhd, expects opportunities to grow with new industries in Malaysia such as the production of photovoltaic cells in the solar industry.

Linde AG executive board member Sanjiv Lamba said the company's Southeast Asian market has been enjoying a double-digit growth and Malaysia is one of the key contributors.

For 2010 alone, the Southeast Asia and the East Asia regions contributed close to ?800 million (RM3.2 billion) in sales.

Last August, the company took full ownership in Eastern Oxygen Industries Sdn Bhd, the leading industrial gases player in Sarawak, expanding the scope of opportunities beyond its current portfolio.

"We also see some key customers through foreign direct investments in East Malaysia and new areas opening up," Sanjiv said.

The German company, which specialises in providing total gas solutions to a variety of industries has, despite weak growth signals from the Europe, continued to invest in various industries.

"We are also open to mergers and acquisitions," he said, in reference to Linde AG's acquisition of Air Products & Products Inc in Europe recently.

Linde AG has completed the general offer of Malaysia Oxygen Bhd, taking the company private.

It has also opened a RM200 million air separation plant in Pasir Gudang, which is capable of producing over 500 tonnes per day of gases and liquid.

The company is now in the midst of commissioning Malaysia's largest carbon dioxide plant in Kertih, Terengganu, which has an investment value of RM600 million.

Eighty per cent of Linde Ma-laysia's production is for industrial gases but it also manufactures and distributes specialty and medical gases, and provides a range of related services including the installation of gas equipment and pipelines and engineering services.

Linde Malaysia managing director Wong Siew Yap said with the strong backing of the parent group, the Linde Group, the company wants to be a part of the Malaysian growth story.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who was also present at the brand launch ceremony, described the company's investments in Pasir Gudang and Kertih as important investments.