The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) 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 2008. ST-101 provides an annual progress report on industry's compliance with the ERCB’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.
Overall for both non-grandfathered and grandfathered plants, total emissions have been reduced 53% since 2000 and about 15% from 2007 to 2008.
The 2009 report outlines 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. Sulphur emissions have decreased from 2000 to 2008 for both grandfathered acid gas flaring plants (down 75%) and grandfathered sulphur recovery plants (down 52%).
The report also outlines emissions reduced approximately 40% from 2000 to 2008 for non-grandfathered plants. Sulphur inlet at these plants went down approximately 35% during that time period. Overall, emissions from grandfathered plants have fallen by approximately 57 per cent from 2000 through 2008. This represents a decrease of approximately 110 tonnes of sulphur emissions (220 tonnes of sulphur dioxide emissions) per day in Alberta.
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, 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, fifteen plants have made upgrades to meet the new requirements, thirteen plants have been relicensed, and eight plants have ceased operating.
The ERCB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy 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 2001-03 are available on the ERCB Web site at http://www.ercb.ca/
For more information, please contact:
Davis Sheremata, ERCB Communications
Phone: 403-297-2252
Visit the Government of Alberta newsroom newsroom.alberta.ca.