BOC Gases is to build a new £12 million plant to manufacture liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen and liquid argon, at Little Island, outside Cork city. It will take two years to build and, at full capacity of some 250 tonnes per day, it will boost its production in Ireland by 75 per cent. The new plant will be located at an existing site where a smaller air separation unit is in operation. As it is fully automated, employment levels will be negligible.

BOC said the investment is being made to meet the growing demand for industrial gases from the many new industries being established and developed in the south of Ireland.