ArcelorMittal to Receive Oxygen from Praxair's Brazilan Subsidiary

White Martins, the Brazil-based subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), has signed an agreement with ArcelorMittal to supply oxygen to ArcelorMittal’s steel production facility located in João Monlevade, in southeast Brazil.

White Martins will build a new air separation unit with a capacity of 780 tons per day and equipped with advanced process controls and energy-efficient process cycles. The plant is scheduled to start up in early 2013.

Steel producers use White Martin’s oxygen to improve furnace efficiency and environmental performance. White Martins has supplied ArcelorMittal at different locations in Brazil for 20 years. ArcelorMittal also applies Praxair’s slag splashing technology at two sites and a pulverized coal injection system developed by White Martins at another site. Both technologies increase productivity and reduce operating costs.

“We look forward to playing an important role in ArcelorMittal’s ongoing growth and contribution to Brazil’s economic progress,” said Domingos Bulus, president of White Martins.