It and its competitors also expects hydrogen demand to grow because of the need to obtain clean energy from petrol-based sources.
The company's executive vice president expects that between 2006 and 2011, refineries will need about 70 world-scale hydrogen units, each costing around $100 M and producing 100 M standard cubic feet/day.
Air Liquide has a new steam reformer due for completion in Bayport, TX, in May 2006. It will have capacity of 100 M scf/day and will be the company's largest hydrogen reformer.