Praxair signs nitrogen, oxygen supply deal with Brazil petchem major Braskem
White Martins, the Brazil-based subsidiary of Praxair, has signed a 15-year agreement to supply nitrogen and oxygen to Braskem, the largest Americas petrochemical company by capacity and the world’s largest producer of biopolymers.
White Martins will build and operate a new cryogenic on-site air separation plant with a capacity of 200 tons/day.
The plant will supply Braskem’s expanded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) unit in the state of Alagoas, in Brazil’s northeast region.
Braskem has invested an estimated R$1 billion ($635 million) in the new industrial unit - the highest ever made by Braskem in a single project in Brazil - which is scheduled to start operations in the first half of 2012.
Braskem already has a PVC unit in Alagoas, and this project will almost double its annual PVC production capacity in the state, making Alagoas the largest producer of PVC in Latin America.
This investment marks the strengthening of the chemical/plastic production chain, also promoting industrial development in the region, the companies said.
"White Martins’ partnership on this project was essential, since, in order to expand our production, we will use a new technology that requires oxygen supply. Once again, White Martins has believed and invested to support Braskem's growth, further strengthening our more than 20-year partnership in the state," says Marcelo Cerqueira, Braskem's vinyls business director.
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