Industrial gas producer to invest 60m euros in air separation plant at Ghent port
German industrial gas producer Messer is set to invest 60 million euros in a new air separation plant in the port of Ghent. The facility will produce essential gases like oxygen, nitrogen and argon for industries such as healthcare, food production and manufacturing.
Messer has chosen Evergem as the location for the plant. The facility will extract gases from the air through a cooling and purification process, supplying industries that rely on these elements for production and preservation.
As the world’s largest family-owned industrial gas company, Messer already operates in Belgium but has previously depended on imports from its other European plants. This investment aims to improve local supply efficiency, reduce transport costs and support industrial growth.
Long-term confidence
Despite it being 15 million euros cheaper to build in China, Messer opted for Belgium due to its strategic position and long-term confidence in the country’s industrial sector.
The investment is part of the company’s broader expansion in the region, which includes its involvement in the construction of a hydrogen plant in Zeebrugge. The new project is expected to create 30 jobs in Belgium and could eventually double Messer’s local capacity.
However, the plant’s approval process may face challenges. A previous permit application was withdrawn due to environmental concerns over water use. Messer has since redesigned the project to use a closed-loop air cooling system instead of canal water. This would address concerns about potential PFAS contamination.
If granted approval, the plant is expected to be fully operational by 2035.
#FlandersNewsService | Port of Ghent © BELGA PHOTO
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