The plant, which is expected to begin operating in 2010, is being engineered, built and installed by Linde Process Plants, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based subsidiary of Linde Engineering, a division of The Linde Group and one of the world’s largest producers of hydrogen and hydrogen plants.

Site construction has already commenced for the 45 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) (107,165 kg) hydrogen plant, which Linde will own and operate under a long-term supply contract.

Linde has been providing hydrogen to CITGO for clean fuels production at the Lemont site from a 15 mmscfd plant that began operating in 2003. In addition to hydrogen, Linde supplies the refinery with other industrial gases such as nitrogen and oxygen.

Linde owns and operates state-of-the-art hydrogen plants and supporting infrastructure in Toledo and Lima, Ohio, supplying BP, Sunoco and Husky refineries and other chemical manufacturers. In addition, Linde also owns and operates over 40 other plants in the region to supply customers with oxygen, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide.