VLS.L Regulatory News (VLS)

1 Sep 2008 07:00



1st September 2008 

OXFORD CATALYSTS GROUP PLC

 ("Oxford Catalysts" or "the Company")

Oxford Catalysts Signs Contract with Thai National Oil Company

Oxford Catalysts, the leading catalyst innovator for clean fuels, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with the Thai state controlled oil and gas company, PTT Public Company Limited ("PTT"), to specify and supply know-how and materials, including catalysts, for a system for the production of synthetic liquid fuels using small scale Fischer-Tropsch ("FT").

PTT, which is Thailand's largest listed company that accounts for 20% of the country's GDP, has selected Oxford Catalysts as a partner in its development of an FT process targeting small scale applications.

PTT's initial focus is on monetising its stranded gas reserves, with a further objective of converting locally available biomass such as wood chips and agricultural waste, as well as coal, into clean transportation fuels. FT derived transportation fuels, such as FT diesel, are sulphur free and offer improved engine performance and reduced particulate emissions.

The initial contract is valued at over $200,000, to be invoiced in the course of 2008 and 2009. 

Roy Lipski, Chief Executive of Oxford Catalysts said:

"Synthetic fuels from small scale FT will be important globally as a source of clean transportation fuels, including in Thailand given its stranded gas reserves and vast biomass potential.

"Oxford Catalysts is delighted with this additional engagement with PTT. We continue to collaborate on a broad range of applications; this contract is evidence of further deepening and broadening of our relationship with PTT following the MOU we announced in July concerning a technology for upgrading natural gas."

- Ends -

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Notes to Editors

Oxford Catalysts Group PLC, the leading catalyst innovator for clean fuels, designs and develops specialty catalysts for the generation of clean fuels from both conventional fossil fuels and certain renewable sources such as bio-waste. Its patented technology is built on almost 20 years of research at the University of Oxford's prestigious Wolfson Catalysis Centre, headed by Professor Malcolm Green, one of the world's most respected inorganic chemists. Oxford Catalysts was founded by Professor Green and Dr Xiao in October 2004.

Oxford Catalysts' strategy is to license its catalysts for commercial application by entering into co-development partnerships with leading manufacturers, producers and suppliers in the petroleum, petrochemicals, biogas, steam applications and catalysis markets.

Oxford Catalysts has two key platform technologies. The first is for a novel class of catalysts incorporating metal carbides, which can match or exceed the benefits of traditional precious metal catalysts, at a lower cost, for several key processes used in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. Applications of these metal-carbide catalysts include the removal of sulphur from crude oil fractions (known as hydro-desulphurisation or HDS), the conversion of natural gas, coal or bio-mass into virtually sulphur-free liquid fuels via the Fischer-Tropsch reaction (known as the GTL, CTL and BTL processes respectively), and the transformation of biogas (waste methane) into syngas − the building block of liquid fuels.

The second platform relates to a unique chemical reaction which can be used to generate steam at temperatures between 100ºC and 600ºC+, instantaneously, starting from room temperature, using a cheap liquid fuel alongside the Company's patented catalysts. Such unprecedented Instant Steam could have important applications in a broad range of markets, from cleaning and disinfecting, to green energy in the form of motive power or electricity.

Oxford Catalysts Group PLC is listed on London's AIM market (coding symbol OCG). 

www.oxfordcatalysts.com 

About PTT Public Company Limited

PTT is Thailand's only fully-integrated oil and gas company, with a leading position in E&P, transmission, refining, marketing & trading of petroleum and petrochemical products. PTT and its affiliates ("The Group") account for over 30% of Thailand's stock exchange with a combined market cap of Thai Baht 840bn (£12.6bn). Thailand's Ministry of Finance is the largest shareholder in PTT with a 52% stake; the Group represents approximately 20% of Thailand's gross domestic product. 

www.pttplc.com