California: Air Liquide Starts up Hydrogen Unit for Cleaner Fuels

PARIS--(Business Wire)--
Regulatory News:

Air Liquide (Paris:AI) continues to grow its hydrogen business in the U.S. to
reliably supply refiners with this essential gas used to convert heavy crude oil
into diesel, jet fuel and gasoline and to further remove sulphur from these
products. These low sulphur transportation fuels meet the most stringent
worldwide environmental regulations.

Air Liquide`s latest world scale hydrogen production unit began operations on
September 29, 2009, on the site of ConocoPhillips` San Francisco refinery in
Rodeo, California, on the north eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay.

The 142,000 Nm3/h* steam methane reformer (SMR), owned and operated by Air
Liquide Large Industries U.S L.P, is one of the largest hydrogen units in
operation in the United States.

Air Liquide has more than doubled its U.S. production capacity of hydrogen in
the last five years. With this unit in production, Air Liquide now operates
hydrogen units at 12 sites in the U.S. in California, Washington, Texas and
Louisiana, with a total hydrogen capacity in excess of592,000 Nm3/h**.

Michael J. Graff, member of Air Liquide Group`s Executive Committee and
president and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. said: "Air Liquide`s
hydrogen business in the U.S. has grown in step with market demand to reliably
meet the needs of our customers.We continue to build our hydrogen infrastructure
in support of the evolving energy sector, a growth driver for Air Liquide."

*120 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd)

**500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd)

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the
environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 43,000 employees. Oxygen,
nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide`s
activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide
continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and
future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic
growth and a consistent performance.

Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable
applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.
Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry`s energy
use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow,
such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals,
homecare, fighting nosocomial infections…

A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer
trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive
growth. The diversity of Air Liquide`s teams, businesses, markets and geographic
presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and
strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and
build its future.

Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true
to its sustainable development approach. In 2008, the Group`s revenues amounted
to €13.1 billion, of which almost 80% were earned outside France. Air Liquide is
listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of
the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.

www.airliquide.com

Air Liquide and hydrogen

Air Liquide has produced hydrogen for over 40 years and holds 320 patents in
hydrogen technologies. The Group operates more than 200 hydrogen production
units worldwide of which 50 are large units, for revenue of €1.2 billion ($1.7
billion) in 2008. Twelve hydrogen pipeline networks totalling 1,850 km (1,150
miles) serve large customers in industrial basins in the U.S., the Netherlands,
Germany, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and China.

Preserving the atmosphere

In 2008, worldwide refineries used hydrogen from Air Liquide to produce cleaner
burning fuels, preventing 770,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide emissions from cars
and trucks.

Air Liquide
Corporate Communications
Corinne Estrade-Bordry
+ 33 (0)1 40 62 51 31
or
Garance Bertrand
+ 33 (0)1 40 62 59 62
or
Investor Relations
Virginia Jeanson
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 37
or
Annie Fournier
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 18
or
U.S. Corporate Communications
Diane Labelle
+1 713 624-8082
or
Michael Rosen
+1 713 624-8023

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