Refinery sulphur emission reductions reflect the different regional needs

Since the late ’70s, CONCAWE has conducted three yearly surveys of its Member Companies to provide detailed data on sulphur in crude oil and petroleum products, and sulphur emissions to air. The most recent survey, covering the year 1998, includes data from 79 European refineries processing about 87% of the Western European crude oil.

The results, soon to be published in a CONCAWE report, show continued decrease of refinery SO₂ emissions and increase of global sulphur recovery as the European refining system has responded to legislation on emissions and product quality. It establishes a new baseline for comparisons with future performance as further legislation affecting refineries and their products is enacted.