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AT PETROPLUS CRESSIER, SWITZERLAND REFINING
FACILITY
Eighth Long-Term European Hydrogen Supply Agreement Follows
Other Recent Achievements
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (15th September 2003) - Air Products
and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) announced today it has signed
a long-term hydrogen supply agreement with Petroplus Refining
Cressier SA to build, own and operate a 7kt/y hydrogen facility
for Petroplus' Cressier, Switzerland 68,000 barrel-per-day
refinery. Air Products' first Swiss hydrogen production
facility, to be on-stream in late 2004, will provide the
Cressier refinery with greater options in supply of feedstock
and the ability to meet tight European gasoline specifications
which will come into force in 2005.
"We are pleased to begin working with Petroplus and
to enter the Swiss refining market", said Phil Sproger,
general manager of Air Products' European Tonnage Gases
Division. "We are already well represented in Europe
with hydrogen production facilities addressing the high
reliability needs of our customers. These facilities meet
the capacity and feed options of our customers, and allow
rapid implementation to help refiners meet global clean
fuels requirements. Our capabilities have led to numerous
long-term relationships within the European refining industry."
The supply arrangement is the 25th Air Products has undertaken
with worldwide refiners. The Swiss steam reformer will be
Air Products' eighth on-site hydrogen plant in Europe and
follows a recent success with its Italian joint venture
partner, in winning a contract award in May 2003 for a 13kt/y
hydrogen production facility in Mantova, Italy. In 2002,
Air Products placed on stream a 53kt/y MMSCFD facility in
Tarragona, Spain, and a smaller hydrogen facility in Llanwern
in the United Kingdom.
The Swiss hydrogen facility is the 22nd to be built through
an alliance between Air Products and Technip. This alliance
continues to provide the worldwide refining industry with
competitive technology, plus world-class safety and reliability
with "over the fence" hydrogen supply. Both companies
bring a long history of hydrogen experience to their role
in the alliance. Technip provides the design and construction
expertise for steam reformers. Air Products provides the
gas separation technology and, through its operating network,
brings operational and engineering knowledge to "design-in"
high reliability and efficiency, and then operates and maintains
the facilities for customers under long-term agreements.
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About Petroplus International N.V.
Petroplus has operations in 20 countries with its corporate
head office in the Netherlands, and regional head offices
in Germany and Switzerland. Core activities of the Company
are oil refining, marketing and logistics. Petroplus has
1000 employees, marketing volumes in excess of 20 million
tonnes a year and storage capacity of 5 million m³
across Western Europe. The Company owns refineries in Cressier,
Antwerp (Belgium) and at Teesside (UK) where it is one of
the UK's largest producers of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD).
Petroplus International N.V. has been listed on the Official
Market of Euronext Amsterdam since 14 July 1998.
About Air Products
Air Products serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare
and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio
of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric
gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials
and chemical intermediates. The company is the largest global
supplier of electronic materials, hydrogen, helium and select
performance chemicals. Founded in 1940, Air Products is
recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence
and commitment to safety and the environment. With annual
revenues of $5.4 billion and operations in over 30 countries,
the company's 17,200 employees build lasting relationships
with their customers and communities based on understanding,
integrity and passion. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
About Technip
With a workforce of about 19,000 persons, Technip ranks
among the top five corporations in the field of oil, gas,
and petrochemical engineering, construction and services.
Headquartered in Paris, the Group is listed in New York
and in Paris. The Group's main engineering and business
centers are located in France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Norway,
Finland, the Netherlands, the United States, Brazil, Abu-Dhabi,
China, India, Malaysia and Australia. The Group has high-quality
industrial and construction facilities in France, Brazil,
the UK, the USA, and Finland as well as a world-class fleet
of offshore construction vessels.
***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking
statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to
changes in current expectations.
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