Aurubis Begins Construction of Air Separation Plant to Boost Efficiency at Lünen Recycling Site
Aurubis has commenced construction of an air separation plant (AS) at its recycling site in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. This investment of approximately €40 million aims to make on-site production operations more efficient and reduce dependence on external supplies. The new plant will use proven technology already employed at other major Aurubis sites, such as those in Hamburg, Germany, and Pirdop, Bulgaria.
The planned air separation plant at Lünen will significantly contribute to the local production process by separating air into its main components, primarily oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), which play crucial roles in copper production. With this new facility, Aurubis will produce both gases on-site, allowing for higher-quality oxygen compared to what was previously supplied externally. The plant is expected to generate nearly 100% pure oxygen, reducing the amount of oxygen needed to produce the same volume of copper.
Producing oxygen and nitrogen on-site also means the Lünen facility will no longer require externally supplied liquid oxygen in large tanks, eliminating up to 3,000 truck deliveries per year and the energy-intensive process of converting liquid oxygen back into gas. This change will help reduce traffic and emissions in the region. The new air separation plant is expected to save up to 8,500 tons of CO2 emissions annually (Scope 3), equivalent to the emissions produced by 1,800 households in Germany each year.
Aurubis continues to expand its Lünen recycling site, which is one of the largest multi-metal recycling facilities in Europe and a cornerstone of the circular economy. "With the construction of our own air separation plant, we are additionally securing the traditional site in North Rhine-Westphalia and strengthening our core business. In Lünen, we will continue to produce recycled metals that are urgently needed for the energy transition and industry in Germany and Europe," said Inge Hofkens, COO and Executive Board member responsible for multi-metal recycling.
Verena von Weiss, Plant Manager at Aurubis Lünen, also expressed her optimism: "I am delighted that we will soon have our own air separation plant here in Lünen. We have had very positive experiences with this technology at other sites. By producing oxygen and nitrogen directly on-site, we will be able to avoid price fluctuations and potential supply bottlenecks for these substances from 2026, ensuring more reliable and efficient production."
Planning and construction of the air separation plant are being carried out by Messer Industriegase GmbH, a specialist in industrial gas plants, with completion targeted for the end of 2025.
