ArcelorMittal Belgium NV, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal SA, has entered into a long-term contract with Air Products. Air Products has been contracted to supply oxygen, nitrogen and argon to ArcelorMittals’ steel mill in Gent, Belgium.
Within the agreement, Air Products shall build, own, operate and maintain a third on-site air separation unit (ASU) at the Gent site. The new ASU is scheduled for start-up in 2012 and will offer a total production capacity of around 2000 tons per day (TPD) which will expand industrial gases supply in the European marketplace.
Howard Castle-Smith, Vice President of Tonnage Gases for Air Products in Europe and the Middle East, commented, “Delivering growth and productivity for ourselves and our customers is an important part of our strategy. Air Products has been supplying ArcelorMittal at its Gent facility – originally named Sidmar – for more than 40 years, and we are delighted to support their continued growth in steel production. This long-term contract demonstrates that our leading technologies and cost-effective mode of supply offer the right solutions for our customers’ increasing requirements.”
Marc Vereecke, CEO at ArcelorMittal Gent, responded, “This investment is based on the need of industrial gases first of all to replace the capacity of ASU1, which will be closed in Terneuzen, and gives ArcelorMittal Gent increased flexibility – volume, focusing on iron ore or scrap route – and the possibility to grow. The two existing Air Products air separation units at the Gent site will continue supplying ArcelorMittal with their current oxygen, nitrogen and argon requirements at their existing operations.”
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