Imperial Oil now producing low-sulphur gasoline across Canada TORONTO, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Canada's largest producer and marketer of gasoline announced today that it is now producing low-sulphur gasoline at all its refineries across Canada. Over $600 million, 18 months of construction, and the efforts of more than 2,000 people have enabled Imperial Oil to reduce the sulphur content of its gasoline by over 90 percent, to 30 parts per million(ppm), more than a year ahead of government regulations. In June 1999, the Canadian government called for the sulphur levels in gasoline to be reduced to an average of 30 ppm by January 1, 2005. "We are very pleased to now be producing low-sulphur gasoline across the country," said Brian Fischer, Senior Vice-President, Products & Chemicals at Imperial Oil. "Sulphur reduction is the latest step in the continuous improvement of gasoline quality and the introduction of low-sulphur gasoline will mean fewer emissions from the tailpipe and cleaner air for all of us." At an event held at an Esso service station in Toronto this morning, Vice-President of General Motors of Canada Limited, David Paterson, was on hand to help recognize Imperial Oil's accomplishments in the advanced introduction of low-sulphur gasoline. "Fuel quality is increasingly important with today's advanced vehicle emissions control technology," Paterson said. "Lower sulphur fuel is one important step towards ensuring advanced vehicle emissions systems operate at their optimal levels and we continue to work with Imperial on other fuel improvements for the benefit of our shared customers and the environment." Ian Morton, Executive Director of the Clean Air Foundation, was also at this morning's event and commended Imperial Oil on meeting this milestone. "We applaud every step taken that further contributes to cleaner air and cleaner communities across Canada. As a partner with Imperial Oil in the Car Heaven program - an initiative to encourage Canadians to get their older, high- polluting cars off the road permanently - we're pleased to see them take this step." "I welcome the efforts of Imperial Oil in producing and marketing low sulphur gasoline," said the Honourable David Anderson, Canada's Minister of the Environment. "Cleaner gasoline together with our regulatory initiatives for low emissions vehicles and small engines will deliver health and environmental benefits across Canada." Imperial Oil is Canada's largest integrated oil company and its largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products. Imperial Oil has four refineries in Canada: Dartmouth, NS; Nanticoke, ON; Sarnia, ON; and Strathcona, AB. DATASOURCE: Imperial Oil Limited CONTACT: Public Affairs, Imperial Oil, (416) 968-4875

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