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United States : Air Products to Build, Own, and Operate Second ASU for Big River Steel in Arkansas
Publish Date : 24-Apr-2019
Air Products announced an agreement to build, own, and operate a second air separation unit (ASU) to support Big River Steel LLCs expansion at its Osceola, Arkansas steel mill. The new ASU, scheduled to be onstream in January 2021, adds to Air Products existing ASU at the same location and will provide oxygen, nitrogen and argon to both Big River Steel and the merchant market. Additionally, the two companies current long-term industrial gas supply contract was extended several years.
One of our core company goals is to provide excellent customer service and we believe that a second ASU and contract extension with Big River is a good indication we are meeting that goal. Big River is a premier steel manufacturer and we are pleased to be a key contributor to their expansion plans at Osceola. Our ASU will be important to Big Rivers operations and our expanded facilitys configuration will allow us to further enhance reliability of product supply to Big River and to increase our industrial gas supply to current and new merchant market customers, said Marie Ffolkes, president, Americas at Air Products.
Big River Steels Chief Executive Officer David Stickler commented, Big River Steel is pleased with Air Products performance and I look forward to expanding our relationship as Big River Steel doubles its steelmaking capacity.
The new facility will be capable of producing over 250 tons per day (TPD) of oxygen and additional quantities of liquid products, boosting Air Products liquid bulk business for the merchant market which is seeing regional growth in several segments including food, metals, construction and stainless-steel industries.
Air Products has supplied Big River Steel at Osceola from a dedicated ASU since 2016. Big River Steel announced in June 2018 that it is expanding its LEED-certified, Arkansas-based scrap recycling and steel production facility. The expansion will double Big River Steels hot-rolled steel production capacity to 3.3 million tons annually. In addition, the expansion will facilitate the companys ability to produce even higher grades of electrical steel, demand for which is expected to increase with continued focus on energy efficiency and the increase in hybrid and electric vehicle sales.
Air Products currently owns and operates over 300 air separation plants in over 40 countries worldwide in all types of applications. In addition to its plants, the company has sold, designed, and built more than 2,000 air separation plants globally. Air Products cryogenic offerings span a range of production capabilities, from plants with a capacity of 50 TPD, to single train facilities with oxygen production capacities beyond 4,000 TPD.
