Air Liquide, a French industrial gas producer entered a new long-term partnership with Russian steel producer NLMK to construct a state-of-the-art air separation unit (ASU).
Under the agreement, Air Liquide will make an investment of nearly €100 million ($114 million) in NLMK’s flagship site in Lipetsk, Russia.
In addition, it will build an air separation unit (ASU) on the Lipetsk site and buy assets to produce hydrogen and rare gas concentrates from NLMK.
The assets include two hydrogen production stations, a section producing inert gases such as neon helium and krypton xenon mixes, and multiple filling stations.
Startup for the new ASU, which will have a production capacity of 1,000 tonnes of oxygen per day, is expected in 2023.
François Jackow, Executive Vice-President and a member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee, said, “This contract demonstrates growth of our Large Industries business in top industrial sites as well as the strength of our integrated model that enables expansion of the Industrial Merchant activity in this high-density regional market.”
“Air Liquide will also contribute through its technological know-how and innovative solutions towards improved energy efficiency of NLMK’s flagship site. This is a concrete illustration of how Air Liquide can contribute to a modern responsible industry.”