HYR.L Regulatory News (HYR)

8 Feb 2006 07:00

HydroDec Group plc08 February 2006 8 February 2006 HYDRODEC GROUP PLC HYDRODEC (POPS) TECHNOLOGY SELECTED BY DOW CHEMICAL Hydrodec Group plc ("Hydrodec" or "The Company") is pleased to announce that ithas been selected by Dow Chemical to test its Hydrodec(TM) technology in a trialfor the advanced treatment of Dioxin contamination in soil. Dow Chemical Michigan and PIRGM (Public Interest Research Group in Michigan,USA) evaluated and selected Hydrodec's technology after a worldwide call forexpressions of interest. Hydrodec's treatment provides a sustainable zeroemission solution that is able to destroy the Dioxins. The trial is expected tocomplete in June 2006. It is expected that there will then follow a lengthyperiod of assessment of the results until any further steps are undertaken. Chairman John Gunn commented, "We are delighted to be working with Dow Chemical.The selection of Hydrodec's technology for this trial demonstrates we are at theforefront of delivering Stockholm Convention compliant solutions for thetreatment of persistent organic pollutants (POP's). "We believe the tests will show that Hydrodec can deliver a zero emissionsolution to the treatment of POP's in the environment. This is a furtherapplication of Hydrodec, which together with our existing speciality oilrefining treatments, opens up many new commercial markets for the company aroundthe world." For further information please contact:-John Gunn - 020 7236 6236Nick Fox - 020 7153 1540 Further Information: About Hydrodec:Hydrodec was established to commercialise the Hydrodec technology which is an oil re-refining process designed to remove harmful contaminants such as PCBs. The Hydrodec technology is based on intellectual property comprising a protected patent in Australia and certain other jurisdictions developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation ("CSIRO") of Australia. Hydrodec has entered into an exclusive global license with CSIRO for the marketing and distribution of the HydroDec technology. Last year, it committed the sum of £1 million (one million pounds) to the construction of a new, larger Hydrodec plant capable of processing up to 20,000 litres per day of speciality oils and/or chlorinated organic wastes. The Company anticipates that the plant will be in operation by Spring 2006. When fully operational, the new plant will produce a near seven-fold increase in HydroDec's processing capacity. Since June 2004 a 3,000 litre per day HydroDec plant has been operating in Australia principally re-refining PCB contaminated transformer oils for Australian power utilities. The technology has also been used to treat a variety of other chlorinated organic wastes, commonly referred to as "Persistent Organics Pollutant" ("POPs"). Dioxins - is a general term for a family of structurally and chemically relatedcompounds. There are some 419 types of dioxin-related compounds but only about30 of these are considered to have significant toxicity. Dioxins are some of themost toxic chemicals known to science; they are environmental "repeatoffenders". Once dioxins have entered the environment or body, they are there tostay due to their ability to dissolve in fats and to their rock-solid chemicalstability. Humans absorb 90-95% of dioxins through the food chain, of whichnearly two thirds comes from the consumption of meat and dairy products. Dioxins enter the environment mainly through incineration processes and thermalprocesses in metals extraction and processing, as well as through the productionand use of organochlorinated compounds. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP's) is a globalinitiative to protect human health and the environment from "POP's" - chemicalsthat are highly toxic, persistent, bioaccumulate and move long distances in theenvironment. The first Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention onPOP's was held in May 2005. Currently there are 100 countries committed asParties to the Stockholm Convention and another 51 signatories. The Convention seeks the elimination or restriction of production and use of allintentionally produced POP's (i.e. industrial chemicals and pesticides). TheStockholm Convention also seeks the continuing minimization and, where feasible,ultimate elimination of releases of unintentionally produced POP's such asdioxins and furans from processes such as incineration. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange