Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) announced it has signed a long-term contract to provide hydrogen to Repsol, one of the world’s largest producers of petrochemicals. The new steam methane reformer (SMR) will be constructed at Repsol’s La Pampilla Refinery, in the Callao district, near Lima, and is expected to start up in 2016.

"We are honored to have been selected to build this hydrogen plant in Peru,” said Domingos Bulus, president of Praxair South America. “We look forward to demonstrating our strong capabilities in hydrogen production and to building a long-term commercial relationship with Repsol.”

The 12 million standard cubic feet per day SMR will use natural gas or naphtha as feedstock for the production of hydrogen. The La Pampilla refinery produces gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel and asphalts, among other products, to serve the local market. The Repsol refinery will also produce low-sulfur diesel fuel that will comply with the strictest environmental standards and be used to serve customers in the local market.

“Through Praxair’s state-of-the-art plants, products and applications technologies, we are supporting our customers in their efforts to address the global trend of adopting more sustainable technologies,” added Bulus.

About Praxair

Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 company with 2013 sales of $12 billion, is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, primary metals and many others. More information about Praxair, Inc. is available at www.praxair.com.