OXEA, a global producer of Oxo Intermediates and Oxo Performance Chemicals, and Air Liquide have renewed their long-standing partnership through a twelve-year contract extension for the supply of synthesis gas and hydrogen at the OXEA Industrial Park Ruhrchemie Oberhausen in Germany. The renewed agreement strengthens supply reliability for OXEA’s global customer base while supporting the company’s strategic focus on expanding its Oxo Intermediates portfolio and accelerating growth in its Oxo Performance Chemicals business. As part of the extension, Air Liquide will invest more than €20 million to modernize its existing Partial Oxidation (POX) unit at Oberhausen, ensuring long-term operational reliability at its largest production hub in Germany.
Investments to Enhance Supply Stability and Production Efficiency
The Oberhausen Industrial Park has served as a major center for oxo chemistry for decades and remains one of OXEA’s most integrated production sites. Under the renewed agreement, Air Liquide will make targeted investments to further strengthen the reliability and stability of synthesis gas and hydrogen supply. The company’s large-scale POX plant currently produces around 340,000 tonnes of syngas and hydrogen annually. The production capability provides a strong operational foundation for optimizing OXEA’s core intermediates manufacturing while enabling expansion into high-value downstream applications across industries such as coatings, lubricants, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Sustainability and Circular Economy at the Core
The partnership also highlights the companies’ shared commitment to sustainability and circular economy practices. By integrating a carbon capture and liquefaction facility with the POX unit, Air Liquide has reduced CO₂ emissions at the site by 50% since 2021. In addition, the captured carbon dioxide is repurposed for use in the food and beverage industry, supporting resource efficiency and sustainable industrial operations.
OXEA Emphasizes Reliability and Long-Term Growth
Albrecht Schwerin, Chief Operating Officer at OXEA, said the renewed agreement highlights the importance of long-term industrial partnerships in ensuring stable and efficient production processes. He added that OXEA values its close collaboration with Air Liquide, which continues to support high standards of safety, operational efficiency, and innovation at the Oberhausen site. Meanwhile, Jorge Castro Roldan, Vice President of Global Procurement at OXEA, stated that the contract extension strengthens the resilience of the company’s core intermediates platform and supports the continued expansion of its Oxo Performance Chemicals portfolio. According to Roldan, securing a more robust supply of critical feedstocks through strategic investments will improve asset utilization, support downstream value creation, and enhance OXEA’s ability to deliver long-term value to customers worldwide.
Air Liquide Reinforces Commitment to Oberhausen Hub
Air Liquide has been associated with OXEA’s Industrial Park Ruhrchemie in Oberhausen since the late 1960s, producing oxygen, nitrogen, and argon at the site. Sebastian Jureczek, Managing Director of Air Liquide in Germany, said the company is proud to continue its long-standing collaboration with OXEA. He noted that since 2010, Air Liquide has operated the Partial Oxidation plant in Oberhausen to produce synthesis gas and hydrogen. Furthermore, he emphasized that the €20 million investment will help maintain high standards of safety and supply reliability while reinforcing Oberhausen’s role as a high-performance industrial hub driven by innovation and sustainable solutions. As per the press release, the twelve-year contract extension reflects the shared commitment of both companies to operational excellence, long-term reliability, and sustainable industrial development at one of Germany’s most important chemical production sites.
