Praxair India Signs Contract With Hospet Steels
August 02, 2005
BANGALORE, India, August 3, 2005 — Praxair India, a leading industrial gases company in India, today announced the winning of an important contract from Hospet Steels for the supply of oxygen. Under the long-term, 15-year agreement, Praxair India will build, own and operate a state-of-the-art cryogenic air separation plant with a capacity of 400 metric tons per day (MTPD). The plant will also include associated liquefaction equipment to meet the growing needs of the market for oxygen, nitrogen and argon in South India. Located in Hospet, Karnataka, the plant will be commissioned in early 2006. Praxair India, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is the largest industrial gases player in India, with a leading market share in the steel sector.
Hospet Steels Ltd. is an entity formed through a strategic alliance between Mukand Ltd. and Kalyani Steels Ltd. for establishment, operation and maintenance of the steel plant at Hospet. In 1998 Praxair India built a dedicated 112 MTPD gas plant for Kalyani Steels at Hospet to supply oxygen. “The new contract is a validation of Praxair’s delivery commitments and high level of service and safety standards,” said Mr. John Panikar, managing director for Praxair India. “Praxair's air separation units are certified ISO 14001, the only company to have this certification, and are extremely energy-efficient and reliable,” he added.
Mr. Suketu V Shah, president and director, Mukand Ltd, said, “We are happy to be associated with Praxair India as their expertise and experience in the steel sector will ensure the highest level of reliability for oxygen supply to Hospet Steels. Praxair’s oxygen will enable our production processes to become more cost-efficient."
Mr. Charu G Patankar, executive director for Kalyani Steels said, “Praxair’s credibility, delivery commitment and service standards practiced at Hospet Steels for over 6 years, made it the natural choice for gas supply for the expansion requirements.”
Since beginning business operations in India 10 years ago, Praxair group has executed major projects for sale of gas to Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Ltd. in Toranagallu, near Bellary; Haldia Petrochemicals in West Bengal; and Saint-Gobain Glass India in Tamil Nadu. Praxair has also set up smaller on-site plants based on innovative technologies for customers such as Usha Martin and Timken in Jamshedpur, Epcos Ferrites in Kalyani, West Bengal, and Sundaram Fasteners at Hosur. Praxair is currently constructing an 875 MTPD plant for Tata Steel in Jamshedpur.
About Praxair
Praxair India, headquartered in Bangalore, is the leading industrial gases company in India, with more than 35 operating locations. More information on Praxair India is available on the Internet at www.praxair.co.in.
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technology bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, food and beverage, healthcare, semiconductor materials, steel, chemicals and refining, metal fabrication, water treatment, glass and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.