BOC Gases and
Air Products and Chemicals Inc. say they will build a joint-venture production facility in Bethlehem, Pa., to produce more than 1,000 tons per day of liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. Construction of the $40 million plant will begin this year on the site of BOC's former Bethlehem facility, which closed in 1996. Start-up of the new facility is scheduled for the second quarter of 2000.
Andrew E. Cummins, vice president of Air Products' General Industries Group, cited utility deregulation as among the factors in the decision to locate the new plant in Pennsylvania.
"As power deregulation continues to move forward in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states, the Bethlehem location should provide ideal access to low-cost energy supply," he said.
