Sulfur Is the Oil Industry’s Other Problem

Critics of the oil industry tend to fixate on carbon emissions, with good reason, but CO2 isn’t the only undesirable byproduct of hydrocarbons. There are also the sulfur oxides, emissions from the noxious fuel that’s fed into most of the world’s ship engines. Just one gallon of this high-sulfur fuel contains as much of the element as about 3,500 gallons of gasoline. Its emissions have been blamed for acid rain and linked to a range of health conditions, including lung cancer.

Three years ago, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued rules designed to cut sulfur oxides emissions from ships by as much as 77%. The move, which takes effect in January, is expected to prevent legions of premature deaths, but it’s proven anything but simple for the energy and maritime industries.