Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Linde, a global leader in industrial gases, has commenced construction of a new air separation plant in Brownsville, Texas. The facility is located at 7245 Industrial Circle, Lot 6, within the North Brownsville Industrial Park—a 72-acre development managed by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC).
The plant is being built to supply liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid nitrogen (LN₂) to SpaceX’s Starbase operations located in Boca Chica. These industrial gases are critical to SpaceX’s Starship development and launch activities. Once operational, the facility is expected to significantly reduce delivery times, cutting the distance between production and launch site from over 500 miles to less than 50.
The project represents an estimated $100 million investment by Linde and is expected to create approximately 90 local jobs. The company purchased 9 acres within the industrial park to develop the site. According to public reports and community posts, construction signage and early infrastructure work are already visible on location.
Social media platforms, particularly within the SpaceX and Starship enthusiast community, have provided early visuals and observations of the site. Several Starship Gazer Facebook group posts confirm the facility’s intended role and ongoing construction. One post read: “First look at the new Linde Air Separation Plant under construction in Brownsville to supply Starbase and Starship with Liquid Oxygen, Liquid…” Another adds: “Linde will be setting up an Air Separation Unit in Brownsville to supply Starbase.” These posts are accompanied by images showing the site and on-location signage.
Mayor John Cowen also acknowledged the project on Facebook, stating, “I am very glad to welcome the arrival of our newest industrial company, Linde, to Brownsville at GBIC’s North Brownsville Industrial Park. As I mentioned in the article, I appreciate their significant investment in our community, which will create well-paying jobs for our residents. Great things are happening in Brownsville!!”
Further verification comes from spaceflight sources such as the Starship Wiki, which identifies the exact plant location and describes the facility as a key supplier of industrial gases to support Starbase and Starship operations. It also notes the site is a 43-minute drive from Starbase. User SE Robinson Jr. posted additional confirmation to X, who reiterated the site’s location and noted that Linde will serve as a “top SpaceX supplier.”
As construction progresses, Linde, GBIC, and SpaceX are expected to provide more official details, renderings, and technical specifications. In the meantime, community updates and local leadership statements continue to highlight the significance of this project in Brownsville’s growing role in the commercial space industry.
