Skikda Helium Plant Achieves 10mn Turnover Since Coming On-Stream
The Helison helium plant at Skikda has achieved a turnover of 10mn since it became operational in April 2007, Algerias official news agency APS reported on 7 June. The plant, built by Germanys technology group Linde at a cost of $80mn, has a production capacity of 600mn cu ft/year of helium. However, the plant is supplied with feed gas (helium, nitrogen and methane) from Sonatrach s three LNG trains at Skikda, which limits the production of helium to just 300mn cu ft/y, or around 1,300 tons/y. Linde said in November last year that when the new LNG train being constructed at Skikda was completed (target date end-2011/early-12), the helium plant should reach its nominal production capacity. The Helison plant has been supplying most of the helium that Linde sells on the European market.
Copyright MEES 2008.
