Praxair Commercializes Industry's Only Hydrogen Storage System

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has begun supplying its pipeline hydrogen customers out of its innovative hydrogen storage facility in Texas. The underground storage cavern, the only one of its kind in the industrial gases industry, is designed to provide Praxair’s customers with hydrogen during periods of planned and unplanned peak demand. The storage facility is integrated into Praxair’s 310-mile hydrogen pipeline, serving more than 50 refineries and chemical plants from Texas City, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana. "This unique facility further demonstrates Praxair’s leadership in exceeding customer expectations and our commitment to be the supplier of choice for refineries and other customers in the Gulf Coast area," said Anne Roby, vice president, South Region, for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business unit. Praxair’s Gulf Coast pipeline network has the capability of supplying 600 million cubic feet per day (16 million cubic meters per day) of hydrogen on a steady-state basis, with peaking capacity of 700 million cubic feet per day (18 million cubic meters per day). Demand for Praxair’s hydrogen on the U.S. Gulf Coast is expected to increase by 15% to 20% per year through 2010 based on refiners’ needs to comply with Environmental Protection Agency regulations and the increasing volumes of high-sulfur crude oil being processed by refineries. Hydrogen removes sulfur from gasoline and other fuels during the refining process. In addition to hydrogen, Praxair supplies refining customers with a complete portfolio of large-volume industrial gases, cylinder gases and specialized services. The company operates 34 steam methane reformers and seven hydrogen pipeline systems around the world that deliver about 950 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of $8.3 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair’s products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a diverse group of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.