Air Liquide and Sasol have recently inked Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Mainstream Renewable Power, a global wind and solar company. The agreements secure a long-term supply of 97.5 MW of renewable power to Sasol’s Secunda site in South Africa, where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production facility. This collaboration marks the third set of PPAs between Air Liquide and Sasol, following earlier agreements with Enel Green Power and TotalEnergies, bringing the total renewable power capacity to around 580 MW.
As part of these PPAs, Mainstream Renewable Power will establish a local company committed to socio-economic development. This entity will oversee the construction of a solar farm located in the Free State province, scheduled to become operational in 2025. The project aligns with Air Liquide’s ADVANCE strategic plan, demonstrating the company’s commitment to collaborating with customers for the decarbonization of assets and client operations.
Nicolas Poirot, CEO of the Africa Middle East & India hub, emphasized the significant contribution of this renewable energy generation capacity to decarbonize operations in Secunda. The initiative actively supports the development of renewable energies in South Africa, aligning with the country’s electrical system’s benefit and societal advancement in the context of a Just Transition.
Air Liquide’s acquisition of Sasol’s 16 oxygen production units in Secunda, operational since June 2021, aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% to 40% through a multi-year investment and modernization plan. With a total capacity of 47,000 tonnes/day of oxygen across 17 Air Separation Units in Secunda, Air Liquide plans to further increase its procurement of renewable energies on-site.
The renewable power supplied through these PPAs underscores a joint commitment to sustainability, contributing to a greener and more environmentally responsible industrial landscape.
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