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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB REPORT INDICATES ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS IN SULPHUR RECOVERY AND SULPHUR EMISSIONS AT ALBERTA SOUR GAS PLANTS

Calgary, Alberta (August 26, 2004) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) today issued Statistical Series (ST) 101: Sulphur Recovery and Sulphur Emissions at Alberta Sour Gas Plants (ST 101), which summarizes sulphur recovery results at grandfathered sour gas plants across Alberta.

Grandfathered plants are those that did not meet the sulphur recovery requirements for new plants listed in ID 2001-3, including some sulphur recovery plants and larger acid gas flaring plants. Degrandfathered plants are those that did not meet the requirements of ID 2001-3 for new plants, but have now relicensed to meet the requirements for new plants.

From 2000 to 2003, sulphur emissions have decreased for both grandfathered acid gas flaring plants (down 30 per cent) and grandfathered sulphur recovery plants (down 25 per cent). Overall, emissions from grandfathered plants have fallen by approximately 25 per cent, due to improved performance and decreased sulphur throughput.

ST-101 stems from Interim Directive (ID) 2001-3: Sulphur Recovery Guidelines for the Province of Alberta (ID 2001-3), issued August 29, 2001. The guidelines established a schedule to degrandfather plants to meet the same sulphur recovery requirements as new plants, implemented a phased approach to meet stringent EUB requirements, and encouraged operators to take early action to improve performance.

In the last four years, eight plants were degrandfathered, three plants were relicensed to meet the requirements for new plants, and four plants were shut down. Currently, there are 22 grandfathered sulphur recovery plants and 22 grandfathered acid gas flaring plants remaining.

The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's resources 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 2001-3 are available on the EUB Web site at http://www.ercb.ca.

For more information, please contact:
Bob Curran
EUB Communications
Phone: 403-297-3392
Fax: 403-297-3757
Email: bob.curran@gov.ab.ca

NR2004-27