BOC has begun construction on a new hydrogen plant at CITGO Petroleum Corp.’s Lemont, Ill., oil refinery. The 15 million standard cubic feet a day plant, which is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2003, will supply hydrogen to CITGO’s new hydrotreating unit for the production of lower sulphur, cleaner burning fuels. BOC is investing more than USD 20 million in the construction of the on-site plant, which will produce hydrogen and high-pressure steam for refinery use. BOC will own and operate the facility.
During the past few years, BOC has committed to building and investing in a number of hydrogen plants for customers in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The hydrogen is being used in refineries, chemical processing plants, and metal finishing plants.