(Archived) Praxair and BP Finalize Hydrogen Supply Agreement

DANBURY, Conn., April 12, 2005 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has finalized an agreement with BP whereby Praxair will supply hydrogen to BP’s Whiting, Indiana, refinery over a 20-year period. Praxair will build a new hydrogen plant with a capacity of 20 million cubic feet per day in order to supply the hydrogen to BP and other customers in northern Indiana. The estimated start-up of the plant is in the third quarter of 2006.

BP will use the hydrogen in the production of ultra-low-sulfur gasoline and diesel fuels. BP is committed to supplying a full slate of low-sulfur, cleaner-burning fuels from its Whiting Refinery over the next few years.

"This expansion more than doubles Praxair's hydrogen capacity in Whiting, further strengthening our ability to meet the growing needs of customers in the northern Indiana industrial corridor," said Howard Brodbeck, vice president, North Region, for Praxair's North American Industrial Gases business unit.

Praxair currently operates a hydrogen-production and pipeline-supply network in Whiting that serves a number of customers in northwest Indiana.

Praxair supplies a complete portfolio of large-volume industrial gases, cylinder gases and specialized services to refinery customers and is a leading supplier of hydrogen to customers worldwide. It operates 25 steam-methane reformers and seven major hydrogen pipeline systems that deliver more than 850 million cubic feet per day (1,250,000 cubic meters per hour) of hydrogen. Praxair’s 310-mile hydrogen-pipeline complex on the U.S. Gulf Coast is one of the world's largest.

BP is the largest oil and gas producer and one of the largest retailers in the United States following a series of mergers and acquisitions with Amoco, ARCO, Burmah Castrol and Vastar. Today, with operations in almost every state, BP is a leader in oil and gas exploration, production, refining, chemicals, commercial products, gas trading and solar energy business. BP has 100,000 employees worldwide and 43,000 in the United States with major operations in Houston, Alaska, Los Angeles and Chicago. BP’s market capitalization is $180 billion and the company is one of the top three oil companies in the world.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair is a recognized leader in the commercialization of new technologies that 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.