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.
Japan is home to Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). ©Kyodo News
Recognising the importance of securing a stable supply of these gases, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently awarded Air Liquide a financial grant explicitly to strengthen domestic neon production.
The project is a fit with Air Liquide’s broader strategy to expand its footprint in Asia’s semiconductor supply chain. In 2023, the company announced it would spend $200m on new advanced materials centres in Taiwan and South Korea to support chipmakers with high-purity gases and precursor materials.
Scheduled to begin operations in 2027, the facility will be one of Air Liquide’s largest oxygen production plants in Japan.
