To: Dave Johnson who wrote (64 ) 3/10/1998 10:35:00 PM From: ForYourEyesOnly Respond to of 281
**OT** ENBC Tuesday March 10, 8:23 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Energy BioSystems Corporation Energy BioSystems, Petro Star Complete Contract for First Commercial BDS Unit THE WOODLANDS, Texas, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy BioSystems Corporation (Nasdaq: ENBC - news) announced today that Petro Star Inc. has signed the first commercial license agreement for a biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS) unit. This commercial agreement grants Petro Star a license to use Energy BioSystems' proprietary biorefining technology for the removal of sulfur from diesel in a 5,000-barrel-per-day BDS unit to be installed at Petro Star's Valdez, Alaska refinery. ''Energy BioSystems' BDS process offers Petro Star an advanced technology that uses naturally occurring enzymatic processes that have been enhanced to work effectively in removing sulfur from petroleum products,'' said Jim Boltz, vice president of engineering and technical support for Petro Star. ''BDS will provide a 1eading-edge processing solution that allows Petro Star to economically meet the future environmental regulations on diesel fuel. Adding the BDS technology to our Valdez refinery positions us for continued growth in a competitive market.'' ''This contract is the result of our decision to remain focused on developing our core diesel desulfurization technology,'' said Ramon Lopez, chairman of the board for Energy BioSystems. ''The knowledge gained from the first BDS unit will greatly help the company's future commercialization efforts and also benefit our strategic alliance partners.'' ''Petro Star's unit is an excellent first commercial unit because it is a win-win situation for both companies,'' said Mark John, vice president of sales and marketing for Energy BioSystems. ''This 5,000-barrel-per-day BDS unit provides Petro Star with a processing solution to desulfurize their diesel. It provides Energy BioSystems the opportunity to prove our BDS technology on a commercial scale and will make it easier for other, larger commercial BDS units to follow. We also continue to work closely with our European strategic ally, TOTAL Raffinage Distribution, S.A., on the development and commercialization of our ultra-deep diesel BDS application to reach the very low levels of sulfur (50-100 ppm), as is anticipated for future European Community regulations.'' The site license agreement calls for the payment of staged license fees and royalties to Energy BioSystems, including a $200,000 initial site license fee payable upon execution of the agreement. In connection with the execution of the site license agreement, Energy BioSystems issued a warrant entitling Petro Star to purchase shares of Energy BioSystems' common stock. Petro Star Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, refines and distributes petroleum products throughout Alaska. The Anchorage-based company owns and operates oil refineries in Valdez and North Pole with distribution facilities in Fairbanks, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. The Petro Star Valdez Refinery is a major supplier of military jet fuel, as well as marine diesel and other middle distillate products. Energy BioSystems Corporation, of Houston, is developing and commercializing biotechnology-based processes for the petroleum refining and production industries. The company's focus to date has been on developing a proprietary biocatalytic desulfurization process involving the use of enzymes to remove sulfur from petroleum, including gasoline, diesel, and heavy and crude oils, while operating at mild temperature and pressure. This process is expected to help refiners worldwide meet environmental regulations in a more cost-effective manner and has the potential to greatly improve the value of high-sulfur crude oil reserves. Additional information about Energy BioSystems is available at the company's web site: www.energybiosystems.com. This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of such risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. In particular, the successful implementation of a commercial BDS unit will be dependent upon Energy BioSystems' ability to achieve additional improvements in the productivity of the biocatalyst and in process engineering. For a discussion of such risks and assumptions, see ''Risk Factors'' included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and discussion of such risks and assumptions included in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE: Energy BioSystems Corporation