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For some time, government regulation of refined products specifications has impacted refinery processing. The quality of gasoline and diesel products as well as the content of sulfur, aromatics, benzene, etc. is closely mandated throughout the developed world. Similarly, stringent product specification are becoming more commonplace in developing regions, requiring refiners to pay close attention to product quality and invest large chunks of capital towards meeting necessary benchmarks.
More recently, many nations have turned a watchful eye towards the threat of global warming and the potential catastrophic impacts that are expected. In response, the regulations of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and more specifically, CO2 emissions, from industrial sources has been brought to the forefront of the global environmental debate.
Members of the hydrocarbon processing industry involved in short- and long-term planning of refinery operations and capital projects can befit from up-to-date information on both refined product specifications and on the current status of various emissions-limiting programs and mandates (termed “climate initiatives”) that are being implemented in various regions around the globe.
