Massy Gas Products Guyana Ltd (MGPGL) commissioned its state-of-the-art Air Separation Unit (ASU) on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s industrial development. The facility, located at Old Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, is designed to meet the growing demand for high-purity gases, including oxygen and nitrogen, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
Augustine Harris, Chief Executive Officer of MGPGL, expressed confidence that the ASU’s capacity will support the country’s increasing need for nitrogen and oxygen. “We are well-positioned to satisfy the demand for nitrogen in the oil and gas sector, especially during critical operations such as turnarounds, start-ups, and shutdowns, including the gas-to-shore pipeline project,” Harris stated.
The ASU produces oxygen with a purity of 99.99% and nitrogen with a purity of 0.155 per million of oxygen. These high levels of purity exceed the standards required for medical and industrial applications. The nitrogen produced also meets the stringent requirements of local beverage manufacturers and other industries.
Manufactured by Cosmodyne, a subsidiary of the Japanese company Nikkiso, the ASU will not only serve the oil and gas industry but also the manufacturing, construction, and healthcare sectors. The CEO noted that while the plant’s largest market is expected to be the oil and gas sector, the versatility of the facility will benefit a broad range of industries.
Originally established in 1948 as Demerara Oxygen Company Ltd (DOCOL), the company, now known as Massy Gas Products, has expanded its product offerings over the decades to include various industrial gases. The company is set to invest further in a three-tonne-per-day CO2 filling plant by year-end, followed by a CO2 production plant, as part of its broader strategy to contribute to Guyana’s burgeoning economy.
At the commissioning ceremony, attended by United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the private sector, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat lauded the company’s investment in the ASU. He emphasized that the facility aligns with the government’s vision of transforming Guyana into a manufacturing and commercial hub.
“The commissioning of this plant is a critical step towards achieving the government’s goal of developing an industrial manufacturing park on the West Bank of Demerara,” Bharrat said. “This will reduce the need for imports, save foreign currency, and create numerous opportunities for local industries.”
Bharrat highlighted Guyana’s unprecedented economic growth, noting that the country is currently producing over 650,000 barrels of oil per day, with projections to reach 1.4 million barrels per day within the next four years. He also pointed to the gas-to-energy project, which is expected to cut electricity costs by 50%, providing clean and reliable energy for the country’s continued development.
Construction of the ASU began in July 2021, with the first productive operation completed in May 2023. Since then, the plant has exceeded its rated capacity, producing roughly 13 tonnes of liquid oxygen and nitrogen per day, ensuring more cost-effective transportation and storage solutions for the country.
The commissioning of the ASU represents a significant advancement in Guyana’s industrial capacity, positioning the nation to meet both domestic and regional demands for high-purity gases while supporting the government’s broader economic and industrial goals.
