Air Products, Sonatrach to recover helium from LNG plants

Industrial gasses company Air Products and Algeria’s Sonatrach have signed two gas production and delivery agreements to recover helium from Sonatrach’s LNG facilities. 

Through the deal, Sonatrach will recover helium from two existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities (GL1Z and GL3Z), and that helium will be delivered to HELIOS’ existing liquid helium plant in Arzew.

HELIOS is a joint venture of the two companies and the deals conducted through the JV have a combined value of $100 million.

The new feedstock will increase the amount of liquid helium produced by the JV plant.

Another component of Air Products’ and Sonatrach’s agreement is that Air Products will design and build, and HELIOS will own and operate, two new air separation plants in Algeria. One will be located in the Hassi Messaoud District, with the second in Arzew.

Once in operation, these plants will produce nitrogen, oxygen and argon, which will be supplied to the Algerian and Maghreb markets through Sonatrach’s unit, COGIZ.