Air Liquide Canada will be building a new oxygen pipeline. The announcement comes with the support of Horizon Utilities and the ontario Power Authoritys saveonenergy Program.

The pipeline will be built between Air Liquides air separation complex and the ArcelorMittal Dofasco plant in Hamilton, Canadas largest flat rolled steelmaking facility.

We are expanding a longstanding business relationship with Canadas largest flat rolled steel producer. The project attests in the ability of Air Liquide to reliably and cost-effectively supply industrial gases which meet high safety and quality standards. It reaffirms our strong determination to keep investing and growing in Canada, says Adam Peters, President and CEO of Air Liquide Canada.

The new pipeline represents a total investment in excess of $12 million, jointly funded by Air Liquide and the ontario Power Authoritys saveonenergy Program.

The new pipeline will reduce electrical energy consumption at Air Liquides Hamilton operations by almost 29,000MWh/year or $2 million annually. It will allow Air Liquide to more efficiently supply ArcelorMittal-Dofasco with oxygen, which is essential in the production of iron and steel. Access to lower cost oxygen will provide an opportunity for increased productivity of ArcelorMittal Dofascos blast furnaces.

We are pleased that Air Liquides project has been seleced for this critical grant. Our supply chain, those organizations that play a role in our success including our customers and supply partners, are critical to our business,” says Brian Benko, ArcelorMittal Dofascos Vice President, Procurement and Information Technology.

A large part of purchased goods and services required to build the pipeline will be sourced from local Hamilton area companies. Construction will begin as soon as final approvals are received from the City of Hamilton and commissioning of the pipeline should begin in March 2015.

SOURCE Air Liquide