Air

Product reformulation

The downstream petroleum industry regularly evaluates and improves fuel reformulations to meet changing regulations and to offer high quality products that meet the needs of consumers and the environment.

In 1999, the federal government announced regulations that reduced the allowable sulphur content in gasoline to an average of 150 parts per million (ppm) over the period 2002 and 2004 and to 30 ppm in 2005.

The industry has worked to reduce sulphur levels in parallel with new vehicle emission standards. Actions include enhancing manufacturing processes and introducing new technologies at refineries. By the end of 2003, the CPPI reported that Canadian gasoline contained an average sulphur content that was below 150 ppm.

On July 31, 2003, Environment Canada issued the final regulation which required refiners to ship on-road Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), with a maximum of 15 ppm sulphur starting June 1, 2006 across Canada, to be available at the retail level on September 1, 2006.

Low sulphur gasoline, along with advanced engine exhaust converters, reduces tailpipe pollution. New gasolines will allow new vehicle emissions control systems to work effectively to further reduce smog-causing emissions (nitrogen oxides by 85 per cent and VOCs by 75 per cent).

In 1999, the “Benzene in Gasoline Regulation” federal government regulations took effect. This resulted in a reduction of the benzene content in gasoline from an average of 1.7 per cent in 1994 to less than one per cent in 1999. This reduction was the equivalent of 3,000 fewer tonnes of benzene emissions from vehicle tailpipes each year.

Refined oil products and natural gas are likely to remain the primary fuels for the foreseeable future. But petroleum companies are also exploring ways to develop lower emission fuels. One example is the development and marketing of ethanol-blended gasolines that decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon monoxide through improved combustion.