The unit will produce more than 770 t/d of oxygen, as well as nitrogen and argon, to supply SDI’s planned new 3 million t/y steel mill in Sinton, Texas, which is due to go online in 2021. The French industrial gases group will also add 45 km of pipeline that will connect SDI to Air Liquide’s proprietary Gulf Coast pipeline network.

“The investment in this ASU and pipeline infrastructure will further enhance Air Liquide’s network capabilities and leadership position in the Gulf Coast, allowing us to meet the growing industrial gas demands of our customers in the region - safely, sustainably and reliably,” said Michael Graff, Air Liquide’s executive vice president and executive committee member.

Netherlands hydrogen initiative launched

Air Liquide has also announced it is launching a joint initiative with the Port of Rotterdam Authority, aiming to enable 1,000 hydrogen-powered zero-emission trucks on the roads connecting the Netherlands, Belgium and western Germany by 2025.

Several partners across the supply chain, from truck manufacturers to transport companies and fuel cell suppliers, have already agreed to join the initiative.

The project, said Air Liquide, is one of the largest in Europe for developing hydrogen trucks and related infrastructure with an estimated reduction of more than 100,000 CO₂ emissions per year, equivalent to driving 110 million km. The initiative also aims to include the necessary electrolysis capacity to produce low-carbon hydrogen.

A final investment decision is expected at the end of 2022.  Air Liquide and the Port of Rotterdam are expecting, and also inviting, more parties to join the project in the coming months.