EIGA Newsletter

As Secretary General, I’m proud to share EIGA’s 2025 wrap-up—our sector’s progress built on safety, sustainability, and collaboration.

In 2025 we focused on three pillars: advancing safety standards, enabling the energy transition, and deepening member engagement across Europe.

Our theme “Driving Safety Digitally” accelerated digital workstreams and launched a new Cybersecurity Working Group.

Councils and Working Groups delivered updated guidance on safe hydrogen handling and bulk gas transport—widely adopted and raising the bar.

Through partnerships with IHC, ISO and CEN, we strengthened harmonisation and the open sharing of best practices.

We stepped up advocacy for a level playing field, urging the Commission to treat on‑site and specialist producers equally.

To underpin our case, we commissioned Frontier Economics to quantify the sector’s economic value to Europe.

Safety remains our licence to operate: training and incident reviews are driving measurable improvements in performance and compliance.

2026 will have its share of challenges. But the Industrial Gases sector can rely on EIGA and its members to address them!

Philippe Cornille
Secretary General

Critical Chemicals Alliance

On 8 July, the European Commission presented the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan to support the chemical sector and their investments on modernisation. A key element of the Action Plan is the creation of a Critical Chemicals Alliance bringing together the Commission and stakeholders and tackle the main challenges affecting the sector.

The alliance will work on

• establishing criteria to identify critical chemical productions and molecules for the European economy

• mapping out critical molecules which can benefit from enhanced trade monitoring and support, including under the Customs Surveillance Systems

• supporting the EU and Member States in aligning investment priorities and guide coordination of EU support mechanisms with national projects

EIGA has been accepted and is now a member of the Alliance.
The first meeting will take place in January.

Low-carbon hydrogen: New definition entered into force on 11 December

The delegated act was published in the EU Official Journal on 21 November. It sets out how to calculate emissions for hydrogen produced from nuclear power or from gas with CO₂ capture, which must be at least 70% lower than those generated by unabated fossil fuels.

The act outlines four options for calculating emissions from electrolysis: using average national-mix emissions; marginal emissions from the last-dispatched plant; real-time tracking of generating units; or hourly national-mix averages. A dedicated methodology for hydrogen produced under power-purchase agreements with nuclear plants will be consulted on in 2026. For gas-based hydrogen, producers are required to apply default emissions values. A review is planned by July 2028.

Commission adopts European Grids Package

The Commission has launched its European Grids Package to accelerate electrification and strengthen energy security across the EU.

What’s in the package?
A vision for Europe’s grids and two legislative proposals revising TEN-E and the Renewables Directive to speed up permitting.
Guidance on Contracts for Difference and efficient grid connections.

Key measures:
Simpler project selection: Streamlined process for Projects of Common/Mutual Interest and expanded TEN-E categories, unlocking CEF funding.
EU-wide planning: A central scenario and stronger intervention to address cross-border gaps.
Smarter grids: Digitalisation and AI roadmap (2026) to optimise capacity and stability.
Faster permitting & public engagement: New EU framework and toolbox for inclusion (Q1 2026).
Financing & supply chains: Future-proof charges, reinvestment of congestion income, and reforms to boost EU-made technologies.
Security & resilience: Cyber and physical security integrated into planning.

The package also sets out plans for eight “Energy Highways” to tackle urgent bottlenecks. Legislative proposals now move to Parliament and Council for debate.

Delays in the European Commission

The Industrial Accelerator Act, initially scheduled in December, is pencilled in for 28 January.
The implementation of the ETS2 is postponed to 2028.

BN 32/25 REV - EIGA Position on Asbestos Communication and Labelling Duties for Dissolved Acetylene DA Cylinders

(EIGA Members’ area)
(Revision of BN 32/25)
The document gives background about the asbestos restriction, the exemption for acetylene cylinders and the requirements for labelling.

COM 15/25 - The Role of the European Industrial Gases Sector for the European Economy - A study in the context of the evolving Carbon Leakage Protection for the European Industrial Gases Association

The EU-27 industrial gases (IG) sector (NACE 20.11) which covers the outsourced supply side of industrial gases, generated €21.2bn in revenue and €7.9bn in value added and directly employed c.40,100 people in 2024. Although modest in size relative to total manufacturing, upstream and induced linkages expand the footprint to €51.2bn in revenue, €21.0bn in value added and c.190,200 jobs in 2024. Industrial gases producers purchase a wide range of inputs (beyond electricity), and these flows propagate along EU value chains.
This study assesses level-playing field issues in the context of carbon-leakage protection. This has two dimensions: externally, it concerns the position of EU industries vis-à-vis non-EU competitors; internally, it concerns competitive neutrality within the EU – here, in particular, between insourced and outsourced IG production.

Doc 260/25 - Indoor Insulated Carbon Dioxide Supply System

This publication provides the minimum requirements and the practices for design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of indoor small stationary insulated carbon dioxide supply systems at users’ premises and addresses the hazards specifically associated with it

SI-TS 18/25 – Defensive Driving

Defensive driving is an approach to driving that emphasizes safety and proactive decision-making. It entails maintaining constant awareness of the surroundings, anticipating potential hazards, and taking necessary precautions to prevent accidents. When implementing defensive driving techniques, drivers remain focused and attentive, carefully surveying the road for any risks and adjusting their driving behaviour accordingly. They prioritize maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, complying with traffic laws and speed limits, and avoiding distractions that could divert their attention. Defensive driving also involves recognizing one's own driving limitations and actively seeking opportunities for skill improvement through education and training.

TB 9/25 - Safety Data Sheets without Exposure Scenarios
(Revision of TB 9/18)

Most customers of EIGA members are aware that according to the REACH Regulation, Exposure Scenarios (ES) could be attached to the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) issued by their supplier. The majority of the SDSs for gases and gas mixtures do not have attached ES. Many customers enquire why no ES is attached to the SDS they have received. This Technical Bulletin outlines the various reasons why no ES is attached to a SDS and should help to answer customer queries.

TB 44/25 - Environmental Control and Monitoring for Medicinal Gas Cylinders
(revision of TB 44/22)

This Technical Bulletin provides the rationale for the storage and handling requirements for medicinal gas cylinders, specifically to justify the reasons why it is not necessary to control the temperature or humidity of the areas where medicinal gas cylinders are stored, or the design of vehicles used for distribution