Air Liquide Singapore and Aster Chemicals & Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a low-carbon hydrogen project that could become a cornerstone of Singapore’s emerging hydrogen economy.
The partnership focuses on deploying an advanced Auto Thermal Reformer (ATR) with integrated carbon capture, aiming to supply low-carbon hydrogen to the country’s industrial and energy sectors.
The collaboration combines Air Liquide’s extensive technical experience, spanning more than 30 ATR units globally, with Aster’s refining-petrochemical infrastructure and deep regional market ties.
Together, the companies will evaluate the technical design, commercial feasibility, and deployment pathway for an ATR system capable of capturing up to 99% of CO2 emissions.
Singapore sees low-carbon hydrogen as a key pillar of its long-term decarbonization strategy. The government’s National Hydrogen Strategy, released in 2022, identified hydrogen as an essential fuel for hard-to-abate sectors and projected that it could meet up to half of the country’s power demand by mid-century.
The Air Liquide-Aster project aims to help build the early supply base needed to translate that ambition into reality.
A potential anchor project for Singapore’s hydrogen transition
If developed, the ATR-CCS unit would support several national priorities at once: diversifying Singapore’s energy mix, reducing emissions from industrial clusters, and enabling a shift away from natural gas reliance.
The project also aligns with Singapore’s broader push to attract international investment into clean-energy technologies, including hydrogen imports, ammonia supply chains, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure.
Air Liquide Singapore CEO Tina Loke said the company’s experience deploying ATR and carbon capture systems worldwide makes it well-positioned to support the country’s transition.
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“This collaboration underscores our dedication to providing innovative gas solutions that drive industrial performance and contribute to Singapore’s ambitious climate goals,” she said.
Aster Group CEO Erwin Ciputra emphasized the role of low-carbon hydrogen in reducing emissions from chemical manufacturing and other energy-intensive sectors. By integrating ATR-based hydrogen production with Aster’s existing infrastructure, he said the partnership aims to accelerate viable decarbonization pathways while ensuring reliability and affordability.
If successful, the project could serve as a template for scaling low-carbon hydrogen production across Southeast Asia, where demand is expected to grow sharply as countries pursue net-zero commitments.
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