(Archived) Praxair Starts Up Two New Hydrogen Plants

DANBURY, Conn., July 28, 2004 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) recently started up two new hydrogen plants in Texas City and Port Arthur, Texas. Now fully operational, the plants produce a total of 200 million cubic feet per day of hydrogen, increasing Praxair's hydrogen-production capability along the U.S. Gulf Coast by nearly 55%. In addition to supplying major refiners in Texas City and Port Arthur, the plants will supply other customers along Praxair's 300-mile hydrogen pipeline system, the largest in the world.

"We expect demand for hydrogen to increase more than 20% per year for the next several years as our refining customers invest in new processes to meet the clean-fuels requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said Dan Yankowski, vice president, South Region, North American Industrial Gases. "These plants meet the need for higher volumes of hydrogen and provide world-class reliability and flexibility demanded by our Gulf Coast customers."

Praxair supplies a complete portfolio of industrial gases and specialized services to refinery customers and is a leading supplier of hydrogen to a variety of customers worldwide. It operates 28 steam-methane reformers and seven hydrogen pipeline systems that deliver more than 700 million 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 2003 sales of $5.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.