Muscat – Air Products, a Pennsylvania-headquartered company that specialises in industrial gases, together with their regional partner Saudi Arabian Refrigerant Gases Company of Saudi Arabia (SARGAS), on Monday announced that it has signed an agreement to build a new air separation unit at Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (JSIS) facility in Sohar.

The new unit will produce a total of over 400 T/D of oxygen and nitrogen to the facility, according to a press statement.

The project, undertaken by Ajwaa Gases LLC – a joint venture between Air Products and SARGAS – represents the third air separation unit installed by Air Products at JSIS facility in Sohar. The addition of the new air separation unit will increase capacity of gaseous oxygen and gaseous nitrogen by 50 per cent; together with an increased production capability of liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, in Oman.

Hamid Sabzikari, vice president and general manager, Air Products Industrial Gases Middle East, Egypt and Turkey, said, “Air Products is delighted to expand our offerings at Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel and strengthen our association further. The successful signing of the third air separation unit demonstrates our commitment to supporting growing customers in Oman and the Middle East region. I am proud of the teams who have shown exceptional resilience and dedication for this project during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and exhibits our core values of safety, speed, simplicity, and self-confidence.”

Sanjay Anand, chief operating officer and plant head at JSIS, said, “We are happy to continue our association with Air Products and congratulate the team for their commitment to safety, and reliability for supply of gases. These gases will be used in our steel melt shop and direct reduced iron (DRI) plant to improve the efficiency and production.”

Khalid Hashim, general manager of SARGAS, said, “We have had a great association with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel over the years and this new air separation unit fortifies the relationship further.” 

Strategically located in the industrial port of Sohar, Jindal Shadeed is the largest privately-owned integrated steel producer in the GCC. This integrated steel plant has a current annual steel production capacity of 2.4mn tonnes and regarded as the preferred and trusted supplier of high-quality long steel products to clients in leading and rapidly growing economies of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Beyond the GCC, JSIS supplies steel products to clients in the far-flung parts of the globe, including six continents.

Air Products provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries.