Air Liquide has signed a new long-term agreement with PEMEX Transformación Industrial, a subsidiary of Mexican state-owned oil and gas company PEMEX, to supply hydrogen (H₂) to the group’s refinery in the central region of Mexico.

The arrangement foresees the French gases producer paying €50m to acquire and optimize PEMEX’s existing H₂ production unit, thus strengthening its presence in central Mexico.

As part of the long-term contract, Air Liquide Mexico will acquire, upgrade and operate the Mexican company’s existing H₂ production unit (Steam Methane Reformer-SMR) for the purpose of supplying 90,000 Nm3 per hour of the chemical to its refinery. The acquisition is subject to closing conditions, including the approval of the Mexican antitrust authority.

The H₂ said the fuel provided will be used in the petroleum refining process to help produce cleaner transportation fuels.  

Participation in Skagerak Naturgass

In other news, Air Liquide said it is acquiring a majority stake in Norway’s Skagerak Naturgass, a subsidiary of Skagerak Energi.

Skagerak Naturgas, which claims to be Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, supplies methane to the Norwegian transport sector through four bio-natural gas for vehicle (bio-NGV) stations located in the Oslo region.

Air Liquide said buying into the company will put it in a better position to pursue its business development in the Scandinavian biogas market, in line with its aim of harnessing renewables technology for clean transport.

Scandinavia and Norway in particular represent one of Europe’s key markets in the development of sustainable mobility, the French company noted. The Norwegian government has declared targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has committed to phasing out fossil fuel-powered vehicles altogether by 2030.