Praxair, Inc. (Danbury, Conn.; www.praxair.com), through its Brazilian subsidiary White Martins, has signed a long-term agreement expanding its supply of oxygen to Fibria Celulose S/A (www.fibria.com.br) in Três Lagoas, Brazil. Fibria is the world’s largest producer of eucalyptus pulp, exporting the product to customers in more than 40 countries.
Through its Horizon 2 Project, Fibria is expanding its Três Lagoas facility, located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The expansion is expected to be completed in late 2017. Praxair’s new plant, also expected to start up in late 2017, is designed to increase Fibria’s productivity and support the company’s expansion of this site. Fibria currently has global annual production capacity of 5.3 million tons of eucalyptus pulp and is seeking to increase its capacity to 7.25 million ton/yr. Fibria’s expansion will demand an additional 160 ton/d of oxygen, for use in the pulp delignification stage, also known as pre-bleaching pulp.