US-based Praxair to supply nitrogen to United Phosphorus' Jhagadia plant

US-based industrial gases supplier Praxair Inc has signed a long-term supply contract with UPL Limited, formerly known as United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), for supplying gaseous nitrogen to the company’s manufacturing unit in in Jhagadia, Gujarat. This agreement further strengthens Praxair’s presence in the fast-growing Western region of the country.
 
UPL is one of India’s largest agrochemicals manufacturers and a leading global producer of crop protection products, intermediates, specialty chemicals and other industrial chemicals. The company is expanding its production capacity, resulting in an increase in its nitrogen usage.
 
“Reliable nitrogen supply is a must for our operations as we expand our production capacity. We are confident in Praxair’s ability to deliver supply reliability and operational efficiency to our company at this critical time,” said a senior spokesperson for UPL.
 
Praxair will build, own and operate a 45 tonnes-per-day nitrogen plant, which is expected to start up in the second half of 2015. The plant will also replace some of the existing customer-owned lower-efficiency nitrogen production equipment currently in place at the site. Praxair is already supplying UPL through a 20-tonnes-per-day nitrogen plant installed at the Jhagadia site in 2013.
 
“The small on-site nitrogen plants designed by Praxair offer UPL and our customers operational efficiency and process reliability. This agreement is another example of the benefits offered by our technology and the confidence our customers have in Praxair. We thank UPL for extending its trust in us,” said Anuj Sharma, managing director, Praxair India.