Air Liquide inks deal with Mexican firm AHMSA for industrial gases

The Franced-based industrial gases major, Air Liquide, announced new agreements with Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA) for the acquisition of an Air Separation Unit (ASU) and a new investment of more than Euro 45 million (approximately $ 60 million) for Air Liquide’s construction and operation of another ASU, both located on AHMSA’s Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico site.
 
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AHMSA, one of Mexico’s largest steel producers, is a fully integrated steel company whose production ranges from raw materials to finished higher value added products. These new agreements follow Air Liquide’s recent inauguration this spring of another ASU on the same site in Monclova, Coahuila, located approximately 200 km northwest of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The total production capacity of Air Liquide Mexico’s 4 ASUs (3 in Monclova, Coahuila and 1 in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico) will reach approximately 3,000 tonnes of oxygen and more than 100 tonnes of argon per day. This will establish Air Liquide as a major source of oxygen in the North of Mexico and the major source of argon in the country.
 
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The three ASUs in Monclova, Coahuila will provide oxygen, nitrogen and argon for AHMSA, while strengthening Air Liquide’s supply to other industries and customers in the region, including metal fabrication, oil and gas, automotive, glass, food and beverage, as well as healthcare sectors. With these new investments, Air Liquide will have invested nearly Euro 200 million (approximately $ 250 million) in Mexico by the end of this year, since its entry in the country in 2011, establishing its leading market position in the northern region, as well as its presence and market potential throughout the other regions of the country.