Praxair, Inc. (Danbury, Conn.; www.praxair.com) has started up a large air separation plant in northern China for the Yankuang Guohong Chemical Co. facility in Zoucheng City. Yankuang Guohong Chemical Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of Yankuang Group, which has total assets of RMB 40 billion.
Through a longterm contract, Praxair’s 3,000-ton-per-day plant will efficiently and reliably supply onsite oxygen and nitrogen to Yankuang and replaces the existing customer-owned air separation units. Praxair’s industrial gases will be used in the coal gasification process for the production of methanol and downstream chemicals.
“Praxair’s world-class air separation plant is helping Yankuang achieve energy efficiency while providing enhanced safety and reliability performance,” said Will Li, president of Praxair China. “The success of this project is due to the strong cooperation between our companies, and we look forward to continuing a long and successful commercial relationship.”