EUROPEAN REFINERS PRESS SULFUR CAMPAIGN

Western European refineries have made major advances in handling sulfur, says a report by Concawe, the oil industry's European organization for environmental health and protection. Sulfur in products sold for combustion from 83 refineries that account for most of western European crude oil throughput fell by 62% during 1979-89, a Concawe survey shows. In 1979-85 sulfur in crude oil feedstock fell to 0.98 wt % from 1.45 wt %. It then increased to 1.1 wt % in 1989.

June 24, 1991

Western European refineries have made major advances in handling sulfur, says a report by Concawe, the oil industry's European organization for environmental health and protection.

Sulfur in products sold for combustion from 83 refineries that account for most of western European crude oil throughput fell by 62% during 1979-89, a Concawe survey shows.

In 1979-85 sulfur in crude oil feedstock fell to 0.98 wt % from 1.45 wt %. It then increased to 1.1 wt % in 1989.

The survey also shows sulfur recovered from refineries for sale to the chemical industry increased to about 31% of total input of sulfur from 10% in 1979.

Sulfur emissions from western European refineries also decreased by 40% during the same period and in 1989 represented 7.5% of the total estimated SO2 emissions from man made sources in the region.

Concawe's survey covered 79% of western Europe's refining capacity in 1979, 1982, and 1985, and 84% in 1989.