Air Liquide finalizes biggest oxygen production site in the world

Air Liquide has finalized the acquisition of Sasol’s 16 Air Separation Units (ASU) located in Secunda. Air Liquide will operate this site, which will be the biggest oxygen production site in the world, with a plan to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% to 40% within the next ten years. As part of this operation, Air Liquide welcomes the more than 220 employees who will continue to operate these ASUs, joining the Air Liquide team in Secunda, where it already operates a 17th ASU. The initial investment is approximately 8 billion South African Rand (circa 480 million euros). The 16 ASUs will be operated by Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa (ALLISA) with a total installed capacity of 42,000 tonnes per day. Since 2018, Air Liquide has been operating a 17th ASU for Sasol on the Secunda site, with a total production capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day. The 16 ASUs taken over from Sasol will be integrated in Air Liquide’s accounts starting immediately.

Air Liquide will bring to the site its expertise in implementing highly mastered operational practices, state of the art technologies, modernization investments and digital capabilities to optimize the operation of the ASUs and the energy consumption. In addition, Air Liquide and Sasol have launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) to pursue supply of 600MW of renewable energy to the operations in Secunda by 2025. This RFP is part of the joint commitment to pursue procurement of a total of up to 900MW of renewables by 2030. The implementation of all these solutions will allow Air Liquide to reduce by 30% to 40% the CO2 emissions linked to oxygen production within the next 10 years, in line with the group’s climate commitments.

“The finalization of this deal is a key milestone in our ambition to work together with Sasol, our partner for 40 years, to combine operational efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions while making a meaningful contribution to the economy of South Africa. We are pleased to welcome the employees who are joining us from Sasol, and are looking forward to modernizing the site and implementing our decarbonization plan. In line with our strategy, and with our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, this operation demonstrates our resolve to act now in favor of the climate and local ecosystems,” Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, said.