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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EUB REPORT SHOWS CONTINUED SULPHUR REDUCTIONS AT SOUR GAS PLANTS THROUGH 2006
Sulphur emissions reduced 34 per cent since 2000
Calgary, Alberta (July 27, 2007) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has issued Statistical Series (ST) 101: Sulphur Recovery and Sulphur Emissions at Alberta Sour Gas Plants (ST 101), which summarizes sulphur recovery results for sour gas plants across Alberta for the years 2000 through 2006. ST-101 provides an annual progress report on industry's compliance with the EUB's Interim Directive (ID) 2001-03: Sulphur Recovery Guidelines for the Province of Alberta (ID 2001-03), issued August 29, 2001. The guidelines established stringent requirements for sulphur emissions, provided a schedule for existing plants to meet the same sulphur recovery requirements as new plants, and encouraged operators to take early action to improve performance.
The 2007 report shows improvements due to improved performance and decreased sulphur throughput in grandfathered plants (plants which did not meet ID 2001-03 requirements for new plants in 2001) when compared to the 2000 baseline. According to the report, sulphur emissions have decreased from 2000 to 2006 for both grandfathered acid gas flaring plants (down 66%) and grandfathered sulphur recovery plants (down 27%).
Overall for both non-grandfathered and grandfathered plants, total emissions have been reduced 34% since 2000 and about 2% from 2005 to 2006.
The report also shows emissions reduced approximately 28% from 2000 to 2006 for non-grandfathered plants. Sulphur inlet at these plants went down approximately 21% during that time period.
Overall, emissions from grandfathered plants have fallen by approximately 35 per cent from 2000 through 2006. This represents a decrease of approximately 69 tonnes of sulphur emissions (138 tonnes of sulphur dioxide emissions) per day in Alberta. It should be noted that emissions did increase slightly (2%) from 2005 to 2006 for grandfathered plants, primarily due to a new gas discovery southwest of Rocky Mountain House which resulted in increased inlets and emissions at one facility. It is expected that emissions from grandfathered plants will decline once again in 2007 due to lower sulphur inlets and improvements in plant performance across the province.
Grandfathered plants are those that do not meet the sulphur recovery requirements for new plants listed in ID 2001-03. This includes some sulphur recovery plants and larger (sulphur inlet greater than one tonne per day) acid gas flaring plants. The Directive set out clear expectations on when older grandfathered plants are required to meet the same requirements as new plants, has incorporated a phased approach to the more stringent requirements, and encouraged operators of sulphur recovery plants to take early action to improve performance. Nongrandfathered plants are those with an approved sulphur inlet greater than one tonne per day meeting the requirements for new plants, as listed in ID 2001-03. This includes both sulphur recovery plants and acid gas injection plants.
Since 2000, fourteen plants have made upgrades to meet the new requirements, ten plants have been relicensed, and five plants have ceased operating.
The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy resources and utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.
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This news release ST 101, and ID 2001-03 are available on the EUB Web site at http://www.ercb.ca
For more information, please contact:
Davis Sheremata, EUB Communications
Phone: 403-297-2252
Email: davis.sheremata@gov.ab.ca
NR 2007-29
