The refinery BAT reference document

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, adopted in September 1996, requires Member States to issue permits for major industrial installations (such as oil refineries) to promote the use of Best Available Techniques (BAT) for reducing emissions of specified pollutants.

The Directive is already in force for new installations as well as for significant revamps or upgrades but does not apply to existing installations until 2007. ‘Integrated’ in the title of the Directive means that the permit must consider emissions to all environmental media as well as the use of raw materials and energy.