Industrial gas major Messer plans to invest €60 million in a new air separation unit (ASU) at the Port of Ghent, Belgium, with operations expected to begin by 2035. The facility will supply oxygen, nitrogen, and argon to key industries, including healthcare, food production, and manufacturing.
The project is currently pending approval after facing previous permitting challenges. Messer had withdrawn an earlier application due to concerns over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination from canal water usage.
PFAS—often called ‘forever chemicals’ due to their environmental persistence—became a major issue in Belgium following contamination from 3M’s Zwijndrecht plant. Decades of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) emissions led to widespread soil and water pollution, prompting regulatory scrutiny.
To address these concerns, Messer has redesigned the facility with a closed-loop air cooling system, eliminating the need for canal water and reducing environmental risks.
This marks Messer’s second ASU investment announced in 2025. In January, the company unveiled plans for a $70 million ASU in Arkansas, US.
In Belgium, industrial gas demand is primarily driven by the chemicals sector—one of the largest in Europe—and steel manufacturing, both of which require a steady supply of oxygen and nitrogen.