Air Liquide Plans Construction of New High-Purity Gas Facility in Idaho

Air Liquide is set to construct a new industrial gas production facility in the United States to cater to the needs of a leading semiconductor manufacturer's new fab. Under a long-term contract, the facility will supply significant quantities of high-purity industrial gases crucial for memory chip production. Air Liquide's investment in this cutting-edge production unit will exceed $250 million.

Air Liquide is set to construct, own, and manage a new industrial gas production facility in Idaho. The plant will produce significant quantities of ultra-pure nitrogen and various other gases, catering to the needs of Micron Technology, Inc., and other local customers. This investment is poised to create numerous direct and indirect job opportunities in Idaho throughout the construction and operational phases. The facility is anticipated to commence operations by the conclusion of 2025.

As an integral component of Air Liquide's comprehensive Carrier Gas solution tailored for major clients, this groundbreaking plant offers an optimized land footprint and total cost of ownership. Leveraging digital technologies, standardization, and modularization, it promises unparalleled value for local customers, ensuring reliability, swift delivery, and efficient project implementation.

This project exemplifies Air Liquide's commitment to advancing technology while minimizing the environmental impact of the semiconductor sector. The innovative design of the next-generation high-efficiency Carrier Gas Facility ensures on-site production of the essential gases with decreased energy consumption and logistical needs. Compared to previous-generation plants, the new production unit boasts a 5% increase in power efficiency. By producing the majority of gases on-site, the need for transportation via trucks is minimized. Furthermore, the facility aims to derive 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within the next five years.

Matthieu Giard, CEO of Americas at Air Liquide Group, expressed satisfaction in deepening the three-decade partnership with Micron Technology. The continued trust from our partner underscores Air Liquide's position as a technology frontrunner in the Electronics industry, equipped with robust innovation capabilities. This investment will bolster the production of cutting-edge memory chips, crucially meeting the rising demand for computing power driven by Artificial Intelligence. This agreement exemplifies our strategy of closely supporting customer growth, particularly in the U.S. market. The Electronics sector stands as a key driver of our 2025 strategic plan ADVANCE, which aligns financial and non-financial performance goals closely.

Scott Gatzemeier, Corporate Vice President overseeing front-end U.S. expansion at Micron Technology, emphasized the significance of Micron's investments in bolstering the resilience of the U.S. supply chain. Given the considerable size and scale of memory production compared to other semiconductor segments, these investments are poised to significantly boost demand for equipment, raw materials, and job opportunities. Over the next decade, Micron aims to expand domestic front-end material sourcing by sevenfold as it establishes its fab in Idaho. This initiative showcases Micron's commitment to fostering a robust semiconductor ecosystem throughout the United States, supported by its planned investments in Idaho, New York, and collaboration with suppliers across nearly all states.