Air Liquide strengthens its presence in the Japanese Electronics sector through significant capital investments

Two major semiconductor market leaders have awarded Air Liquide long-term contracts for the supply of ultra-high purity industrial gases in Japan. To fulfill these contracts, Air Liquide has begun a staged investment of more than 300 million euros in four state-of-the-art gas plants in key Electronics basins to produce more than 1.5 billion Nm³ per year of nitrogen and other high purity gases.

Air Liquide will build, own and operate ultra-high purity industrial gas plants to support our customers’ strategic growth in the production of advanced semiconductors. Compared to previous generation units, the four energy efficient plants will enable the Group to avoid the emission of an estimated 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions associated with the electricity used by around 11,000 Japanese homes in one year. The first plant is expected to start production at the end of 2022.

Air Liquide has been supplying industrial ultra-pure gases in Japan and abroad to these two customers for more than two decades. The new production facilities will strengthen Air Liquide’s leading position in Electronics in Japan  and support the growth momentum of the Group’s Electronics activities.

François Abrial, Member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee supervising Asia Pacific, said:

“We are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with these long-term partners, in line with our strategy to invest for the semiconductor industry and to reinforce our presence in major industrial basins. These contracts illustrate Air Liquide’s capacity to provide our customers with reliable and power-efficient ultra-high purity industrial gas production solutions. They are also aligned with our Sustainability Objectives, which include helping our customers lower their carbon footprint. ”