Metinvest will build an oxygen complex in Mariupol

Metinvest Group has signed a contract with Air Liquide, a world leader in the production and supply of gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare. The most modern air separation unit in Ukraine will be built at the Ilyich Mariupol Metallurgical Plant (MMK). The complex will meet the needs of the plant for oxygen required for the production of pig iron.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ambassador of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont, Mayor of Mariupol Vadim Boychenko, Vice President for Operations Air Liquide Lasad Jauani and General Director of Metinvest Group Yuriy Ryzhenkov took part in the launch of the project.

The total investment in the construction of the complex will amount to USD 78.3 million. The project attracted funding from the state export credit agency of France (Bpifrance Assurance Export).

The capacity of the air separation unit will be 25 thousand cubic meters of oxygen per hour. The infrastructure of the complex includes a gasification station with a liquid oxygen storage facility, an evaporator and two pumps. The automated installation will reduce energy consumption by 20%.

The equipment for the project will be supplied by Air Liquide, and it will be implemented by specialists from Metinvest Engineering and the Ilyich Steel Plant. During construction, a thousand additional jobs will be created. The complex is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2021.

The signing of the contract took place at the site of the steel-casting complex of CCM # 4, which was launched in March. Designed taking into account the latest technologies and compliance with European environmental standards, it has become the largest industrial construction project during the years of Ukraine's independence. The project cost Metinvest US $ 150 million, and the equipment for it was supplied by the Austrian company Primetals Technologies, a world leader in solutions for metallurgical enterprises.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

- I want to thank Isabelle Dumont, our French partners for their belief in the stability of Ukraine, that we are a free democratic state. We can talk about large investment projects in Ukraine. Today's signal is a very important signal for the whole world that all countries have nothing to fear. This is an important investment project for Ukraine and for Mariupol. What this wonderful enterprise has shown us today proves that we have a wonderful country and worthy people.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont:

- The participation of a French company in this project of Metinvest Group demonstrates our faith in the city's capabilities. Mariupol is becoming more and more attractive despite the impact of the conflict in Donbass. Renovation of the metallurgical complex, investments in pr�