On the occasion of the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, Air Liquide and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday in Beijing to contribute to the accelerated deployment of hydrogen mobility solutions in China. 

This joint venture will work towards the development of a hydrogen mobility network and the enhancement of a regulatory framework intrinsic to the development of hydrogen energy economy in China. 

"Sinopec is striving for a sustainable energy future for China and the world with our mission of 'better energy for better living'," said Dai Houliang, chairman of Sinopec. "In the green and low carbon transition of China, we believe that hydrogen will play an important role and we can contribute to hydrogen energy development together with distinguished partners like Air Liquide." 

Benoit Portier, CEO and chairman of Air Liquide Group, commented: "We are delighted to strengthen our long-term partnership with Sinopec in order to accelerate the rollout of concrete solutions for the development of a hydrogen energy infrastructure in China. We are convinced hydrogen will have a key role to play in the energy transition. Advances in the development of hydrogen energy in China is an important milestone." 

Under the agreement, Air Liquide will provide Sinopec with its extensive hydrogen supply chain expertise, from production and storage to distribution, so as to provide competitive hydrogen supply solutions to the Chinese clean mobility markets. 

Sinopec is the largest refining, as well as the second largest chemical and fuel retailer company in the world with a network of more than 30,000 retail stations. Air Liquide in China already operates nearly 90 plants with more than 4,000 employees. With a strong presence in the key coastal industrial areas, Air Liquide is now expanding into central, southern and western areas. 

Its main business activities include industrial and medical gas operations, engineering & construction (designing, manufacturing and installing air separation units/hydrogen facilities), as well as innovation activities. 

Air Liquide and Sinopec already have a long-term partnership with three existing joint ventures supplying Sinopec facilities. Both companies also share a common vision on the role of hydrogen as part of the future energy mix. 

Sinopec joined the Hydrogen Council in September 2018 and adheres to the council vision that hydrogen is key to a clean energy transition. In view of the rapid development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell industry in China, Air Liquide and Sinopec agree on the need to develop a Hydrogen Energy infrastructure network through a dedicated subsidiary.