Advanced technology and tougher regulations have reduced local pollution in the past 20 years. But further reductions will be needed in future, particularly in the congested cities of the developing world.
Our operations
Pernis refinery, Netherlands
We have been working hard to reduce the emissions of local pollutants – like nitrous oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – from our operations. We have invested to improve facilities, installed cleaner-burning equipment and SO2 capture technology.
Cleaner fuels
We were one of the first companies in the early 1990s to produce ultra-low sulphur diesel on a commercial scale. We invested more than $1 billion at our refineries over the past decade to produce lower sulphur fuels. The sulphur levels of the fuels we sell vary, depending on what is available from local refineries, but the differences will narrow as more governments in developing countries can afford the costs of desulphurisation. These governments often own the main local refineries.
We continue to work with governments to promote lower sulphur fuels and the modern engines needed to benefit from them.
Our work to help develop more electricity with lower emissions includes investing steadily in natural gas, promoting coal gasification technology, and operating our existing wind farms reliably and safely.
Read more about the cleaner fuels we are providing and how we are helping customers reduce their emissions.
