Empresas y finanzas

Praxair to Participate in Spanish Clean-Coal Project



    Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) announced today that it will work with
    Fundacion Ciudad de la Energia (CIUDEN), a Spanish government agency,
    to develop a pilot facility incorporating advanced technologies for
    carbon dioxide abatement and capture from coal-fired electricity
    generating plants.

    To be located in El Bierzo, in northern Spain, the initial phase
    of project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2009. It will conduct
    tests using anthracite coal and petroleum coke fuels in both
    pulverized-coal and circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers under a
    wide range of operating conditions and with different degrees of
    oxy-coal combustion. Biomass fuel may be tested at a later stage.

    In oxy-coal combustion technology, pure oxygen instead of air is
    introduced to the boiler, creating a highly concentrated stream of
    carbon dioxide, which is more economical to capture. Praxair will
    provide the upstream oxygen supply facilities; the oxygen mixing and
    injection technology; the downstream carbon dioxide capture and
    gas-processing technologies and equipment; and the overall control
    systems integration for the power systems.

    "By bringing together government, industry and research
    institutions, we hope to identify the best combination of engineering,
    design and equipment to achieve both environmental and economic goals
    in the reduction of greenhouse gases in power generation," said Prof.
    Dr. Vicente J. Cortes Galeano, program manager for CIUDEN.

    Charles McConnell, Praxair's vice president for gasification and
    oxy-coal technology, said, "Praxair is well positioned to be a strong
    partner in clean-coal projects. We bring proven engineering and design
    capabilities, gas-processing and systems expertise, and global
    experience in the capture and purification of carbon dioxide. This
    project will help us develop the most cost-effective and efficient
    routes to carbon dioxide capture in power-generation applications."

    Praxair Spain is a leading industrial gases supplier in Spain,
    with 20 air separation and carbon dioxide plants, four pipeline
    complexes and 15 cylinder-filling stations located throughout the
    country.

    Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and
    South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of
    $8.3 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric
    and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. 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. More information on
    Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

    CIUDEN, created in May 2006, is the main institution of the
    Spanish Government responsible for developing national geological
    CO(2) capture and storage programs. Its board of directors includes
    the Ministries of Education, Industry and the Environment.