OXEA, Air Liquide renew syngas, hydrogen supply deal in Germany

Building on decades of operations at the Industrial Park Ruhrchemie site in Oberhausen, a cornerstone of oxo chemistry and one of OXEA’s most integrated production hubs, the agreement is supported by targeted investments from Air Liquide aimed at enhancing the robustness and long-term stability of synthesis gas and hydrogen supply. Air Liquide’s large scale POX plant has a production capacity of 340,000 tonnes of syngas and hydrogen per year. This provides the operational foundation required to optimise core intermediates production and enable the expansion of higher-value downstream applications across key markets such as coatings, lubricants, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Through this partnership, OXEA reaffirms its commitment to delivering consistent quality, dependable supply, and innovation-driven solutions to customers worldwide. The renewed contract also provides the operational stability needed to pursue industry-leading projects at the site. For Example, by connecting a Carbon Capture and liquefaction plant to the POX unit, Air Liquide has reduced its CO2 emissions by 50% since 2021. The captured CO2 is repurposed to supply the food and beverage industry, demonstrating the sustainable circular economy principles embraced by both companies.

Albrecht Schwerin, Chief Operating Officer at OXEA, said: “The renewal of this contract reaffirms the critical role of long-term partnerships in ensuring the stability and growth of our production processes. We value the close cooperation with Air Liquide, which enables us to maintain the highest standards of safety and efficiency while driving forward innovative projects.”

Jorge Castro Roldan, Vice President of Global Procurement at OXEA, said: “The extension of this agreement bolsters the resilience of our core Intermediates platform and supports the continued growth of our Oxo Performance Chemicals portfolio. By securing a more robust and reliable supply of critical feedstocks through targeted investments, we are enhancing asset utilisation, enabling downstream value creation, and reinforcing our ability to deliver consistent performance and long-term value to our customers.”

Air Liquide has been a key partner of OXEA’s Industrial Park Ruhrchemie in Oberhausen, where it has been producing oxygen, nitrogen and argon, since the late 1960s.

Sebastian Jureczek, Managing Director of Air Liquide in Germany, stated: “Since 2010, Air Liquide has operated the Partial Oxidation plant in Oberhausen to produce synthetic gas and hydrogen, and today we are proud to extend this long-standing journey with OXEA. This contract renewal and our €20 million (~$23.2 million) investment in Oberhausen will ensure the highest standards of safety and supply reliability. This partnership also reinforces the Group’s commitment to the Oberhausen site as a high-performance hub in Germany, driven by industrial innovation and sustainable solutions.”

This 12-year extension confirms both companies’ shared commitment to operational excellence, reliability, and sustainable development within one of Germany’s key chemical production hubs.

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ALCHEMPro News Desk (JP)