Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Industrial Gases, a joint venture between Praxair of the US and Air Liquide of France, has been awarded a 15-year contract to supply hydrogen and carbon monoxide by pipeline to Bayer Polyurethanes (Shanghai).

The joint venture will build a new HYCO plant, including a steam methane reforming unit and a carbon monoxide unit. It will have an annual capacity of about 130,000 tons and is expected to start operations in 2012.