WORLD SCALE HYDROGEN AND UTILITIES COMPLEX TO SUPPLY BP AND SUNOCO
13 October 2004 - BOC Gases

The complex will be capable of supplying over 120 million standard cubic feet a day of hydrogen (H2) to the Sunoco and BP refineries and to other potential customers in the region. BOC will also provide steam to the Sunoco refinery from the facility, which will be located at the Sunoco refinery.

BOC is investing more than $100 million in the facility, subject to a favourable outcome of certain tax incentive considerations, which are anticipated to be finalised in the next two months. With the current schedule, construction is scheduled to start in November and the project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2005. BOC's partner for engineering and constructing the facility is Linde BOC Process Plants of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The complex will provide Sunoco and BP with a highly reliable and cost-effective source of hydrogen to enable the refineries to meet their production requirements for cleaner burning, ultra-low sulphur gasoline and diesel fuels. These fuels will meet or exceed the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 2 clean fuels regulation.

“BOC was able to develop the most efficient hydrogen production and supply options for each refinery,” said Alan Iantosca, global vice president, BOC Process Systems. “BOC is dedicated to investing in projects like Toledo and in others around the world that promote the development of the cleaner burning, hydrogen-rich fuels of the future and that make best use of our natural resources.”

“BOC already owns and operates the largest hydrogen utility supply schemes in Asia, South America and the United Kingdom. The Toledo initiative brings BOC’s total investments in the global oil and gas industry to more than US$ 350 million over the last 18 months and builds on BOC’s significant presence in Ohio and the U.S. Midwestern states,” Iantosca said.

Kent Masters, president, BOC Process Gas Solutions, Americas, said, “We are delighted to expand our long-standing relationships with both BP and Sunoco. We work closely with BP on three continents and have supplied Sunoco in the greater Philadelphia area for many years to facilitate the efficient and safe production of both companies’ chemicals and refinery products.”

The BOC Group, the worldwide industrial gases, vacuum technologies and distribution services company, serves two million customers in more than 50 countries. It employs 44,500 people and had annual sales of over £4 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at www.boc.com .

BP is one of the world's largest energy companies, with global interests in more than 100 countries. It is a major producer of oil and gas and has substantial refining, retail, petrochemical and solar interests. The company employs more than 103,000 people worldwide.

Sunoco, Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products. With 890,000 barrels per day of refining capacity, over 4,800 retail sites selling gasoline and convenience items, over 4,500 miles of crude oil and refined product owned and operated pipelines and 37 product terminals, Sunoco is one of the largest independent refiner-marketers in the United States.

http://www.boc.com

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