Air Liquide Adds Helium In Qatar

Air Liquide has been awarded a contract by RasGas to build the world’s largest helium extraction, purification, and liquefaction unit, in Ras Laffan, Qatar. The unit will add annual capacity of 38 million m³ when completed in 2013. With this unit and an existing 20 million m³ unit, the Qatar site will account for 25% of worldwide helium production. Shortages of helium have plagued research, medical, and industrial users for a number of years, particularly as U.S. production has waned. Air Liquide will purchase 50% of the new unit’s output, Linde will get 30%, and Japan’s Iwatani will get the balance.