New stage for Air Liquide's hydrogen business in Europe with the creation of a plant on BASF's site in Antwerp

19-Jun-2002

Air Liquide has announced its decision to invest in a hydrogen-production unit on BASF's site at the port of Antwerp (Belgium). This major project marks an important new stage in the partnership between BASF and Air Liquide.

Under a long-term contract, this new hydrogen plant - with a production capacity of 100 000 m3/h - will supply many Air Liquide customers as well as BASF via its hydrogen pipeline network. Almost 900 km long, this network already supplies industry in the Antwerp basin, the Netherlands - particularly the port of Rotterdam - and customers in southern Belgium, in the Feluy region, and northern France, in the region around Arras and Douai.

Construction work is set to begin next July, and the plant is expected to go onstream in the last quarter of 2003. Air Liquide's intention is then to add a carbon-monoxide-production unit to meet BASF's future requirements, and those of other customers in the Antwerp area, starting in the year 2005.

The new facility will be the largest Air Liquide hydrogen-production unit in the world, thus demonstrating the company's desire to be a major player in the market for hydrogen which is more and more required to serve increasing demands in the oil refining and chemical industry. The oil refining industry, for example, uses hydrogen to reduce the sulfur content in automotive fuels and thus in engine emissions, which severely contribute to environmental pollution. Through this investment Air Liquide will be able to supply the refineries in the region.

This operation confirms the BASF/Air Liquide partnership, which began in 1969, for the supply of industrial gases - originally for oxygen and nitrogen, and then compressed air. This supply will now include hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/11429/new-stage-for-air-liquide-s-hydrogen-business-in-europe-with-the-creation-of-a-plant-on-basf-s-site-in-antwerp.html