Air Liquide to invest over $150M in Idaho gas plant for memory-chip maker

Investment and purpose

Air Liquide announced an investment of over 150 million USD to build, own and operate a new industrial gas production facility in Idaho to support the site expansion of a global leader in semiconductor memory chips.

Products and timing

Scheduled to begin operations in 2028, the state‑of‑the‑art unit will deliver large volumes of ultra‑pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon, which the company says are essential for manufacturing advanced memory chips.

Strategic context

The expansion is intended to meet surging demand for AI in U.S. and global markets and to support the reshoring of advanced semiconductor manufacturing by supplying essential ultra‑pure gases and critical materials. Air Liquide frames the Idaho project as part of a broader footprint expansion across major U.S. semiconductor hubs including Arizona, Indiana, Virginia, Texas and upstate New York.

Executive comment

Matthieu Giard, Group Executive Committee member responsible for Americas operations, said: "This new investment underscores Air Liquide’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for critical industrial gases required to manufacture advanced semiconductor chips. Building on the strong relationship we have established as their current supplier, our customer’s decision to choose us for this new phase of growth demonstrates a deep and renewed trust in our proven capabilities in Idaho. As the U.S. market accelerates, we are proud to support our customer’s expansion and enable the breakthrough technologies of tomorrow."