The Linde Group and Waste Management are building the world's biggest plant for the conversion of landfill gas into biogas

The plant will begin operating in 2009. It is intended that the liquefied biogas will be used as a fuel for Waste Management's 300 trash and recycling collection vehicles in California. The capital expenditure amounts to 15 million US dollars.

Linde is responsible for the engineering of the plant as well as the cleaning and subsequent liquefaction of the landfill gas. Waste Management, North America's leading recycling and waste management company, is supplying the landfill gas – which comes from the natural decomposition of organic waste. It is expected that the plant will produce around 50,000 litres of liquid biogas per day.

“This project is an outstanding example of our commitment to the production and further development of alternative energy sources. By collecting landfill gas and turning it into an environmentally friendly fuel, we are relieving the strain on the environment and at the same time reducing CO2-emissions”, explained Kent Masters, a member of the Executive Board of Linde AG and responsible for the company's business in North America.

Linde has been pressing ahead with the development and environmentally friendly use of both fossil and alternative fuels for years. From production to fuelling techniques, Linde delivers technological solutions for natural gas, biogas and hydrogen. Linde also works closely together with well-known energy companies to develop second-generation biofuels such as ethanol and BtL (Biomass-to-Liquid) which are manufactured from biogenous residues.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with more than 50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2007 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.3 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based and sustainable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

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Press
Uwe Wolfinger
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Investor Relations
Thomas Eisenlohr
Telephone: +49.89.35757-1330