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Imperial Oil now producing ultra-low sulphur diesel across Canada
| Calgary, AB,
May 31, 2006
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Imperial Oil Limited, Canada's largest producer and marketer of fuel,
announced today that it is now producing ultra-low sulphur diesel at its
Dartmouth, Sarnia, Nanticoke and Strathcona refineries.
About
$500 million, two years of construction, and the efforts of some 5,000 people
have enabled Imperial Oil to reduce the sulphur content of its diesel fuel by
97 percent, to 15 parts per million (ppm), in accordance with government
regulations. In July 2001, the Canadian government called for sulphur levels
in diesel to be reduced to an average of 15 ppm by June 1, 2006.
"We are very pleased to now be producing low-sulphur diesel across the
country," said Gilles Courtemanche, Vice-President, Refining and Supply at
Imperial Oil. "Sulphur reduction is the latest step in the continuous
improvement of fuel quality in Canada and the introduction of low-sulphur
diesel will mean fewer emissions from the tailpipe and cleaner air for all of
us."
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Canada's Minister of
the Environment, expressed congratulations to Imperial Oil on the company’s
remarkable achievement noting this effort is leading the way in showing how
Canadian competitiveness and ingenuity can contribute to cleaner air and a
sustainable economy.
The introduction of ultra-low sulphur
diesel will have a significant impact on emissions from Canada’s trucking
industry. Regulations starting with the 2007 model year will reduce allowable
emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate
matter by 95, 89 and 90 percent, respectively.
"The move to
ultra-low sulphur diesel is yet another investment the trucking industry is
making to help clean Canada’s air," said David Bradley, CEO of the Canadian
Trucking Alliance. "This fuel will enable vehicle engines being introduced
this fall to function at maximum efficiency and to operate virtually
smog-free."
Ersilia Serifini, Executive Director of the
Clean Air Foundation commends Imperial Oil on meeting this milestone. "We
applaud every step taken that further contributes to cleaner air and cleaner
communities across Canada. As a partner with Imperial Oil in the Car Heaven
program - an initiative to encourage Canadians to get their older,
high-polluting cars off the road permanently - we're pleased to see them take
this step."
Imperial Oil has spent more than $1.2
billion to reduce the sulphur content of its gasoline and diesel. In 2003, the
company completed a $650-million project that reduced sulphur levels in
gasoline. These two initiatives will reduce smog-causing nitrogen oxides and
particulate-matter emissions from new vehicles by almost 90 percent.
Imperial Oil is one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies and its
largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products. Imperial Oil has four
refineries in Canada: Dartmouth, NS; Nanticoke, ON; Sarnia, ON; and
Strathcona, AB.
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