Source: Air Liquide
Air Liquide (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) recently started the world’s largest oxygen production unit for Sasol (Johannesburg, South Africa, www.sasol.com). Air Liquide invested around €200 million for the construction of this Air Separation Unit (ASU) in Secunda, with a total production capacity of 5,000 metric tons (m.t.) of oxygen per day (equivalent to 5,800 m.t. per day at sea level). Owned and operated by Air Liquide, it is the first ASU that Sasol has chosen to outsource to a specialist of industrial gas production at this site.
Located in Sasol’s Secunda site (around 140 km East of Johannesburg), the new ASU supplies Sasol with large quantities of oxygen used for production of fuels and chemicals. The startup of the air separation unit represents the first time at Secunda that Sasol has chosen to outsource an oxygen supply contract.
The ASU’s design is based on Air Liquide’s proprietary technologies including several first of its kind innovations in the air compression process, which allow for an annual electricity consumption reduction of more than 20%, contributing to reducing the customer’s carbon footprint.
As scheduled, the new ASU has been completed in less than three years from design to commissioning. This ASU also provides Air Liquide with a new source of liquid gases to supply the growing industrial gas market in South Africa.
François Jackow, member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee, supervising Middle East and Africa: “We are proud to be consolidating a strategic partnership built on trust and long-term commitment with Sasol. This project illustrates 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, confirming our leadership in oxygen production technology as well as our commitment to contribute to South Africa’s economic and social development.”
Bernard Klingenberg, Sasol’s Executive Vice President, Operations: “The successful start-up of this world class ASU unit cements Sasol’s long-standing strategic partnership with Air Liquide, bringing first rate oxygen supply expertise and long-term reliability to our Secunda operations. Furthermore, this important milestone ensures that our integrated Southern African value chain provides a robust platform for Sasol’s long-term growth and sustained contributions to the country’s economy”.