BOC expands in Brazil
BOC will build an oxygen plant for Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão (CST), the world's biggest producer of slab steel.
CST, of Vitória, Espírito Santo, is Brazil's third largest steel mill. It is an integrated steelworks company that uses continuous casting processes for the production of steel slabs. In 2002, with the commissioning of its hot strip mill, CST has added value to its steel slab production. CST is one of the lowest cost steel producers in the world. It provides 20 percent of the total global merchant slab supply, and exports around 99 percent of its annual output, including 49 percent to North America, 7 percent to Europe, and 44 percent to Asia. Since its privatization in 1992, the company has invested more than USD 1.9 billion in its production facility.
"BOC is committed to helping customers address their operational needs with integrated solutions. We have partnered with iron and steel producers around the world to deliver gases, environmental controls and specialized combustion technology to help them improve efficiency and productivity so they can remain competitive under challenging market conditions," said Nigel Jewkes, vice president, metals marketing, BOC.
Under the multi-year supply agreement, BOC will build and operate an oxygen plant at CST's plant in Vitória. The plant is capable of producing up to 400 tons-per-day (tpd) of gaseous oxygen and is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2004.
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