Praxair Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. Wednesday announced it has signed a long-term supply agreement to design and build a cryogenic air separation plant to supply 900 tons per day of gaseous oxygen to Essar Steel Algoma Inc.'s steel mill located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The new plant is scheduled to start up by early 2011 and will be fully integrated with Praxair's existing air separation facilities at Essar in Sault St. Marie.
"Essar has a program underway to expand its operation," said Rob Hossack, Praxair Canada's managing director. "Our new facility will provide them with the product they need along with a high degree of production flexibility and reliability to achieve this goal. Essar and Praxair have had a long-term relationship in Sault Ste Marie, and this project positions us to continue to grow together in the future," he added.
Essar Steel Algoma's Chief Executive Officer Armando Plastino commented, "Praxair has been a reliable supplier to Essar Steel Algoma for over 50 years. Praxair's ability to match product supply to our production requirements helps us to be more responsive to our customers and also more competitive in the marketplace."
A member of the Essar Group, Essar Steel Algoma Inc. is a fully integrated steel producer, deriving its revenues primarily from the manufacture and sale of hot and cold rolled steel products including sheet and plate.
Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2009 sales of $9 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings.