Industrial gas supplier Praxair Inc. has signed a long-term agreement to provide oxygen to US Methanol LLC, which is building its first facility in Kanawha County, WV, that will use Appalachian shale natural gas to manufacture methanol. Praxair said it would build a plant to produce oxygen for US Methanol that’s expected to start up in 2019. US Methanol’s facility was broken down in Brazil and moved to its new site in Institute near Charleston. The methanol plant would be capable of producing 200,000 metric tonnes per year (mtpa) and could be expanded to 350,000 mtpa. The facility is expected to enter service later this year. Methanol is produced for use in plastics, varnishes, medicines, adhesives and textiles.