Contract for the purchase of carbon dioxide.
DANBURY, CT,
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has signed a 15-year contract with Osage Bio Products, an affiliate of Osage Bio Energy, for the purchase of carbon dioxide that is produced from Osage’s barley-to-ethanol bio-processing operations in Hopewell, Va. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of ethanol fermentation.
The carbon dioxide will be purified and liquefied to produce up to 450 tons per day from Praxair’s new plant, scheduled for start up in the fourth quarter of 2011. The carbon dioxide will be used primarily in food freezing and processing, and for beverage applications.
“Our intention is to build a world-class facility at the Osage Bio Energy plant in Hopewell, which will help us better serve our growing customer base in the East Region,” said Ted Trumpp, vice president, East Region, for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business unit.
“Biogenic carbon dioxide from our fermentation process is a wonderful source for food grade applications,” said Craig Shealy, president and CEO of Osage Bio Energy. “Praxair is a top-tier industrial gas company, and we are excited to work with them to co-locate a plant on our site.”
Osage Bio Energy’s first plant, Appomattox Bio Energy, located in Hopewell, Va., is targeted to start up in August 2010. When complete, it will be the first commercial scale barley-to-ethanol processing plant in the United States, producing 65 million gallons of ethanol per year.
About Osage Bio Energy
Headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., Osage Bio Energy was launched in January 2007 with the goal of developing the first major barley-to-ethanol bio-processing facilities in the United States. Osage Bio Energy is developing a market for barley in the Mid-Atlantic to serve as an alternative feedstock for ethanol production, produce a high-quality barley protein meal for livestock, and provide soil conservation benefits by promoting year-round farming opportunities. For more information visit www.osagebioenergy.com.
About Praxair
Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2009 sales of $9 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty 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.
Media Contact: Maureen Fama, (203) 837-2025
Investor Relations Contact: Elizabeth Hirsch, (203) 837-2354
