Air Liquide to establish world's largest helium plant
6 May 2010
Paris – Air Liquide announces that it has been awarded a contract by RasGas Co. Ltd, on behalf of Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Ltd and Qatargas Liquefied Gas Co., for a large turn-key helium extraction, purification and liquefaction unit to be installed in Ras Laffan, Qatar.
The new unit will be the largest in the world, with a production capacity of 38 million m3 of helium per year. The technology used to purify and liquefy helium at very low temperature (-269°C) is a proprietary Air Liquide advanced technology. For this project, Air Liquide will provide the largest helium liquefier in the world, which will be operated by RasGas.
This project arises out of the existing partnership between Air Liquide, RasGas and Qatargas, which was formed for the successful development of a previous helium unit on the same site in 2003. The combined production of these two units will be 58 million m3 per year, making Qatar a leading producer of helium, with 25% of worldwide production.
Moreover, under a long-term agreement with Rasgas and Qatargas, Air Liquide will be entitled to purchase 50% of the helium volumes produced by this new unit. Access to this major helium source, combined with the acquisition of the international supplier and distributor Pure Helium in 2008, will position the Group as one of the main players in the worldwide helium market.
This project arises out of the existing partnership between Air Liquide, RasGas and Qatargas, which was formed for the successful development of a previous helium unit on the same site in 2003. The combined production of these two units will be 58 million m3 per year, making Qatar a leading producer of helium, with 25% of worldwide production.
Under a long-term agreement with Rasgas and Qatargas, Air Liquide will also be entitled to purchase 50% of the helium volumes produced by this new unit.
Access to this major helium source, combined with the acquisition of the international supplier and distributor Pure Helium in 2008, will position the group as one of the main players in the worldwide helium market, said Air Liquide.
