White Martins, the Brazil-based subsidiary of Praxair Inc. (NYSE: PX), Danbury, CT, has started up a new 800-tons-per-day air separation plant in the state of Minas Gerais, located in southeastern Brazil. Under a long-term contract, Praxair’s new plant will supply industrial gases to ArcelorMittal, a global integrated steel and mining company.
The energy-efficient air separation plant will enable ArcelorMittal to serve customers across all major steel-consuming industries, including automotive, mining, construction and household appliances and packaging. Praxair is ArcelorMittal’s main industrial gases supplier in Brazil, delivering gases to five of its facilities located in Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states.
The Minas Gerais plant will also supply local merchant liquid customers in the Brazilian southeast in such segments as mining, primary metals, automotive, manufacturing and healthcare. Minas Gerais is Brazil’s third-largest state economy and contributes over 9 percent of Brazil’s GDP, with the industrial sector being a major contributor.
