Refining
Canada's refineries and petrochemical plants are grouped in central processing complexes located in various parts of the country. There are three main refining centres in Canada, but most provinces have at least one refinery. In 2007 a total of 19 refineries were in operation:
- 16 manufacture the full range of petroleum products
- 2 are primarily asphalt plants with limited production of other products
- 1 is a petrochemical plant that also produces some distillate products
Refineries located in Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada source a portion of their crude oil from abroad, while western Canadian refineries are fully supplied by domestic production. Large volumes of refined oil products are shipped by pipeline to other areas of the country and across North America.
Canada's full product petroleum refineries process over 293 000 cubic metres per day of heavy and light crude oil. In 2007, Canadian refinery utilization rates averaged over 90%.
Refineries are regularly upgraded to run economically and efficiently, not only to meet industry demands, but also to meet evolving regulatory requirements. This includes meeting high standards concerning:
- efficient operation
- waste management
- public safety
- employee health and safety
Desulphurization
Canadian refineries have produced low sulphur gasoline and diesel as established by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) since January 1, 2005.
- Sulphur in gasoline - annual average sulphur level must not exceed 30 parts per million. None can exceed 80 parts per million as of January 1, 2005.
- Benzene in gasoline - the benzene content is limited to 1% by volume (flat limit), or as an alternative, to 1.5% by volume providing that the yearly pool average of all gasoline produced does not exceed 0.95% by volume.
- Low sulphur diesel - the concentration of sulphur in diesel fuel produced or imported for use in on-road vehicles shall not exceed 15 parts per million. Diesel fuel sold in the northern supply area shall not exceed 15 parts per million.
- Regular sulphur diesel - the concentration of sulphur in diesel fuel produced or imported for use in off-road engines shall not exceed 500 parts per million from June 1, 2007 until May 31, 2010; and 15 parts per million after May 31, 2010.
