Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries in Europe (2010)

Report no. 1/16: This report describes the results of the 2010 year survey into the sulphur pathways in European refining. This includes the distribution of sulphur in products, the capture and recovery of sulphur in refineries and the emission of sulphur oxides as part of the refining process. The archived results of surveys carried out for the years 1998, 2002 and 2006 are also included.

In 2010 the 63 refineries, considered in this report, processed crude and other feedstock equivalent to 68% of the European refinery throughput. The results confirm a downward trend in the sulphur content of major product streams, associated with a strong increase in sulphur recovered in the refinery process and a reduction of sulphur emitted from refinery operations.