Canada may copy European, U.S. Northeast sulfur limits on heavy fuel oil, home heating oil

Diesel Fuel News, April 14, 2003

Environment canada calls for public comment on a proposal to slash heavy fuel oil sulfur limit to 1%, and light fuel oil (including heating oil) to 0.1%, similar to limits in parts of the U.S .(See: http://www.ec.gc.ca/energ/fuels/reports/cnslt_rpts/disc_paper/toc_sum ms_e.htm).

However, some U.S. Northeast. areas have even lower limits (under 500-ppm sulfur) on No.:l/No.2 heating oil, and upcoming U.S. EPA regulations for highway and non-road diesel fuel are likely to have a coincidental (non-regulatory) effect of creating ultra-low-sulfur heating oil, due to terminal storage limitations on distillates. The up-coming Environment Canada rule could allow stack emissions technology controls in lieu of fuel sulfur control, as allowed in Europe, the agency notes.