Air Liquide

International integrated energy and chemicals company, Air Liquide, recently launched the world’s largest oxygen production unit – Air Separation Unit (ASU) – worth around €200m, for Sasol in Secunda, Mpumalanga.

The new ASU was completed in less than three years, from design to commissioning. The ASU’s design is based on Air Liquide’s proprietary technologies which allow for an annual electricity consumption reduction of more than 20% contributing to reducing the customer’s carbon footprint, the company said in a statement.

Air Liquide’s, Francois Jackow stated that the project illustrated Air Liquide’s capability to manage very large innovative projects. “This new unit sees, for the first time, Sasol outsource its oxygen needs at its Secunda site.”

Speaking at the inauguration, the minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, said “Government welcomes such investments and partnerships as we seek to build our productive capacity and capability. We acknowledge the significant role played by Sasol in attracting this two million euro in foreign direct investment by Air Liquide to South Africa.”

The unit is expected to contribute a total production capacity of 5000t of oxygen per day and supply, Petro chemical giants, Sasol, with large quantities of fuels and chemicals.