Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Approves ORYXE Energy Alternative Diesel Fuel Formulation
IRVINE, Calif.--April 27, 2006--After passing several days of official emissions testing at West Virginia University, ORYXE Energy International's OR-LED alternative diesel fuel formulation received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for use in the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) market.TxLED is the new, cleaner-burning diesel fuel mandated for use in 110 Texas counties to improve air quality.
"We are extremely pleased to announce our latest OR-LED approval by the TCEQ," said James M. Cleary, chairman and chief executive officer of ORYXE Energy. "We look forward to continuing to deliver a high quality product to our customers and helping Texas to achieve cleaner air."
ORYXE Energy's OR-LED diesel fuel additive is already helping fuel producers across the state to meet the cleaner diesel requirements, having previously won approval under the alternative compliance plan provision of the TxLED rule. ORYXE Energy passed its prior testing in October 2004, and has been supplying the Texas market since the rule took effect Nov. 1, 2005.
The company tested its additive solution under the rule's new alternative diesel fuel formulation provision to streamline TxLED compliance for OR-LED customers. TCEQ-approved alternative diesel formulations can be used by fuel producers without the submission of alternative plans.
ORYXE Energy's latest tests further demonstrate the ability of OR-LED to significantly improve diesel fuel emissions. Test data showed that a high aromatics, ultra low sulfur candidate diesel fuel treated with the OR-LED additive produced an equivalent or better emissions profile than a low aromatics, ultra low sulfur TxLED reference fuel (untreated) for the following emissions: Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Total Hydrocarbons (THC), Non-Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Total Particulate Matter (TPM). Since the new test report is based on work funded in part by the State of Texas through a TCEQ grant, it will be publicly available on the TCEQ Website, which also contains ORYXE Energy's prior test results and approval.
The tests were conducted at internationally-recognized West Virginia University National Research Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Laboratory, following the TCEQ's new robust testing compliance procedure that includes onsite test supervision by TCEQ personnel. West Virginia University is one of only three labs accepted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to certify alternative diesel fuel formulations for use in California.
ORYXE Energy owns and operates an additive blending facility in Texas specifically to support the Texas Low Emission Diesel market. The Pasadena, Texas facility currently is producing OR-LED additive for a wide range of customers, including refiners, distributors, terminals and municipalities. The facility can produce enough additive to supply the TxLED market, and can be easily expanded to supply other markets as well.
ORYXE Energy's core proprietary technology is unique to the field of combustion science and was invented based on insights gained from observing naturally occurring chemical processes. The active, proprietary ingredient in the company's additives is biodegradable, non-toxic and compatible with fossil fuels, oxygenates, biomass fuel and biodiesel.
About ORYXE Energy
ORYXE Energy International, Inc., (www.oryxe-energy.com) based in Irvine, Calif., develops, certifies and distributes proprietary fuel additives that improve performance and reduce toxic emissions from the combustion of hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, diesel, residual fuel and other distillates. Founded in 2001, ORYXE Energy was named a Top 100 Innovator by Red Herring magazine in late-2004. The company holds one U.S. patent and has 13 patents pending.
Odyssey & SAIL Venture Partners (www.odysseyventure.com) of Costa Mesa, Calif., Ridgewood Capital (www.ridgewoodcapital.com) of Ridgewood, N.J. and Paladin Homeland Security Fund (www.paladincapgroup.com) of Washington, D.C. are the lead venture capital investors in ORYXE Energy.
