Linde’s German gases division and Total Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland, a subsidiary of the French petrochemicals group based in Leuna in eastern Germany, have extended their supply relationship for the site a further 15 years. The new contract, worth about €1 billion, is due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2018.

The two-decade partnership dates to 1997, when the Total refinery started up in Leuna. Since then, Linde has supplied operations there with hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen from its local facilities.  The agreement also covers the operation of a gas separation plant at the refinery site, which recovers carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the refinery’s flue gases for resale to Linde customers.

With an annual consumption volume of over 560 million standard cbm of oxygen, more than 180 million standard cbm of hydrogen and 120 million standard cbm of nitrogen, Total’s central Germany location is Linde’s largest single customer in the country.

Altogether, the Leuna chemical park is Linde’s largest gases production hub in Europe. From here the company covers the full spectrum of product ranging from air gases, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and rare gases to acetylene and specialty gas mixtures.

Additionally, the Remote Operation Center (ROC) in Leuna monitors and operates 116 plants across Europe. Linde said it has invested more than € 500 million in the location since 1990.

Total Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland produces around three million tonnes of petroleum annually and is also Germany’s methanol producer of methanol. Linde and Total were among the first companies to invest in the newly privatized East German chemicals sector following German reunification.