Industrial gas major Air Liquide will build and operate a new air separation unit (ASU) on Naoshima Island, Japan, to support rising demand for materials essential to the energy transition and semiconductor industry.
The plant will produce up to 1,400 tonnes of oxygen per day, along with nitrogen, argon, and neon. Mitsubishi Materials, Japan’s leading copper producer, will use a portion of the oxygen supply to ramp up copper production, which is a critical material for electric vehicles, communication techs, and renewable energy systems.
The ASU will also enhance Japan’s supply of rare gases, particularly neon, which is a crucial component in semiconductor lithography. Currently the country imports most of it.
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