Puget Sound Refiinery will be doing initial engineering work for its low-sulfur gasoline project and will move into the construction phase by April of next year, with completion scheduled in 2003, said Dave Gruber, technical manager. During the construction phase, Gruber said that 100 to 150 workers will be involved, with the work handled by contractors. The company anticipates that a majority of the construction positions will be filled locally, Equilon plans to hire four permanent employees to operate the new facilities. The Low Sulfur Gasoline Project will include construction of an access road and refinery treatment units over a four-acre site at the refinery's March Point refinery, according to county planning documents. New federal regulations will require refineries in the United States to begin producing low-sulfur gas.
Sulfur dioxide is created from the sulfur content in the fuel when the gasoline is combusted.
Sulfur dioxide is a concern because its presence in the atmosphere can result in acid rain with potential for environmental damage. New catalytic distillation hardware will be added to the refinery, which will allow for the removal of sulfur from gasoline. Sulfur is removed using a catalyst and hydrogen. The sulfur that is removed is converted to liquid elemental sulfur and is sold primarily to the fertilizer industry. The upgrades are part of clean fuel regulations.