Air Liquide opens hydrogen facility in Saudi Arabia

Air Liquide has commenced operation at its hydrogen production site in Yanbu Industrial City, on the West coast of Saudi Arabia. Announced in 2010, this investment of more than Euro 350 million represents both the largest industrial investment and largest ‘over the fence’ (or build, own and operate contract) hydrogen contract of the Group.
 
In the context of a long-term agreement, Air Liquide Arabia will supply hydrogen to the new Yasref refinery (a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and China’s Sinopec) located in Yanbu, one of the main industrial areas of the country and a high growth area for refining and petrochemicals. Yasref is the largest refinery in the region and will process 400,000 barrels of heavy crude oil per day. Hydrogen will allow the reduction of the sulfur content of the produced fuels, and meet the environmental standards for cleaner transportation fuels.
 
With two global-scale hydrogen production units and one purification unit, the Air Liquide site has a total hydrogen capacity of 340,000 Nm3/hour. The production will ramp up, according to the needs of Yasref, during the course of 2015.
 
The presence of significant industries such as refining or petrochemical in the industrial basin of Yanbu will allow Air Liquide to further develop and optimise the hydrogen supply to its customers in this region.
 
With the start-up of these new units, the Group’s hydrogen production capacity increases by close to 20 percent.