Air Liquide buys world’s largest oxygen operation

AIR LIQUIDE is buying the world’s largest oxygen production site – from Sasol in South Africa – and has committed to reducing CO₂ emissions from the operations by 30%,

The 17 air separation units at Sasol’s site in Secunda produce 42,000 t/d of oxygen for use in synthetic fuels and chemicals produced from coal. Air Liquide built all 17 units over the last 40 years, but to date operated only one of them – the largest – which started operations in 2018.  

The sale by Sasol is part of efforts to sell assets so it can focus on core operations, and to decarbonise its business, the company said.

Air Liquide said it will invest around €440m (US$530m) and in coordination with Sasol is aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions from the oxygen-production operations by 30–40% by 2030. This includes modernising the units, using digitalisation techniques to optimise operation, and investing in 600 MW of renewable energy.