core sector communique

Uhde and Praxair sign global hydrogen alliance agreement

In December 2009 Uhde and its subsidiary, Uhde Corporation of America in Bridgeville, USA, signed a global hydrogen alliance agreement with the American company, Praxair, which is headquartered in Tonawanda, N.Y., USA. The arrangement effectively covers the areas of steam reformer-based hydrogen plants and over-the-fence (OFT) hydrogen supply. The hydrogen produced by these plants will be used in nearby refineries which are used to manufacture low-sulphur fuels. This alliance of two industry leaders will help satisfy the global refining industry's need for increasing amounts of hydrogen for the efficient production of cleaner burning fuels.

Uhde's technological capabilities in steam reforming and hydrogen production, worldwide engineering and construction resources, combined with Praxair's global technology, engineering, construction and operations capabilities, will enable this alliance to provide customers with highly energy-efficient, cost-effective, reliable and safe supplies of hydrogen. As part of this alliance, Praxair and Uhde will also work together to advance the technology to address the refining industry's future needs and challenges.

Under this new alliance, Uhde's Indian subsidiary, Uhde India Private Limited, and Praxair's Indian subsidiary, Praxair India Private Limited, have already begun constructing a hydrogen facility which will be operated by Praxair in Paradip in the state of Orissa. This facility will utilize Uhde's state-of- the-art steam-reformer technology to supply approximately 100,000 Nm3/h of hydrogen, using LPG and naphtha as a feedstock. Praxair India will supply the produced hydrogen to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.'s new 300,000 barrels-per-day refinery currently under construction.

The facility is scheduled for commissioning for the first quarter of 2012.

Uhde India's contract covers the turnkey supply of the entire hydrogen plant. The licence, technology, fundamental supplies, and monitoring services will be provided by Uhde, the parent company.

Uhde has a workforce of more than 4,500 employees worldwide and is a company in the Plant Technology business area of the ThyssenKrupp Group. The company's activities focus on the engineering and construction of chemical and other industrial plants in the following fields: fertilisers; electrolysis; gas technologies; oil, coal and residue gasification; refining technologies; organic intermediates, polymers and synthetic fibres; and also coke plant and high-pressure technologies. We also provide our customers with professional services and comprehensive solutions in all areas of industrial plant operation.  

Uhde India Private Limited is a dynamic and progressive Indian EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) company committed to providing the entire range of services involved in the conceptualisation, design, construction and commissioning of plants for the Chemical, Petrochemical, Fertiliser, Refinery, Metallurgical and Pharmaceutical industries in India and abroad. 

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2009 sales of $9 billion. 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. Praxair is a leading supplier of hydrogen globally, operating 34 steam-methane reformers and seven hydrogen pipeline systems around the world. The company's 310-mile hydrogen pipeline along the U.S. Gulf Coast, incorporating the industry's only hydrogen storage cavern, is one of the world's largest hydrogen-supply complexes.

Praxair India Private Limited , with headquarters in Bangalore, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. and started operations in India in 1996. Since then, Praxair has emerged as India's largest industrial gas supplier. Praxair India is helping its customers improve their process efficiency, environmental performance, lower operating cost and increasing yield.