French Firm One of Four Working on Large-Scale Production and Export Project
France-based industrial gases firm Air Liquide is one of four energy-related companies that have joined forces to develop a worldscale, low-carbon ammonia production and export project on the Houston Ship Canal in Texas.
The consortium comprising Air Liquide, Japanese energy company INPEX and US-based LSD Industries and Vopak Moda Houston have already completed feasibility studies and are now working on the project’s pre-FEED stage.
The project is targeting first-phase output of more than 1.1 million tonnes per year of ammonia by the end of 2027, with options for future expansions. The Houston Ship Canal was chosen as the preferred location because of its strategic location in one of the world’s largest petrochemical corridors, Air Liquide said.
Partner Vopak Moda already boasts storage and handling infrastructure for bulk liquid products and operates an ammonia terminal that includes storage tanks and a newbuild dock with multiple deep-water berths.
The project would also have access to utilities and would be near multiple pipelines that could supply raw materials like natural gas and water, Air Liquide added.
“Air Liquide is committed to working with its customers and industry partners to provide innovative and sustainable technology solutions to decarbonize traditional industrial processes, like ammonia production,” said Adam Peters, CEO of Air Liquide North America.
“We are proud to contribute our hydrogen production expertise and portfolio of sustainable technologies in order to produce low-carbon hydrogen to support decarbonization of industrial markets. Together with our customers, we can reduce carbon emissions in industrial basins and advance toward a more sustainable future.”
If the project proceeds, LSB and INPEX would collaborate on low-carbon ammonia production, while Air Liquide and INPEX would work together on clean hydrogen output. The French firm would supply its autothermal reforming and carbon capture technology.
Air Liquide would also be responsible for onsite nitrogen and oxygen production using its proprietary air separation unit technology.
INPEX and LSB would sell the ammonia and finalize off-take agreements, while Vopak Moda would build additional storage capacity to handle ammonia production at the proposed new facility.
Air Liquide is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, an extensive networking platform for executives operating at the top end of the project supply chain in sectors such as oil and gas, energy and renewables, mining and minerals, construction, forestry, industrial manufacturing and aerospace.
The next in-person meet-up for BGSN members will be at Breakbulk Middle East 2023, taking place on February 12-13 at the Dubai World Trade Center.
