Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2022: chapter 2.2

2.2 Sulphur oxides (SOx)

In 2020, 651 kt of sulphur oxides (SOx) were emitted in Canada (Table 2–4). Oil and Gas Industry were one of the largest contributors, accounting for 38% (245 kt) of national emissions. Approximately 86% (210 kt) of the emissions from this source were attributed to the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry sector. Ore and Mineral Industries was the second-largest source of SOx, accounting for 30% (193 kt) of total SOx emissions, mostly attributed to Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry at 13% (85 kt) and Aluminium Industry at 9.4% (61 kt) of national total. Electric Power Generation (Utilities) also accounted for 26% (168 kt) of total SOx emissions.  

Overall, SOx emissions decreased by 78% (2.4 Mt) between 1990 and 2020 (Figure 2–2). Reductions in emissions from the Ore and Mineral Industries, and in particular the Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry sector, were the largest driver of this downward trend, particularly in the early 1990s, and again from 2008 to 2020. The decrease since 2008 can be attributed to the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans by facilities, the installation of new technology or processes at facilities, the closure of four major smelters in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and facilities achieving Base Level Industrial Emissions Requirements (BLIERs) through environmental performance agreements (ECCC, 2017, 2018a).   

Emissions from Electric Power Generation (Utilities) decreased significantly from 2005 to 2020, primarily owing to the closure of, or improvements to, generating stations burning heavy fuel oil. Improvements consisted of installing pollution control equipment or switching to low sulphur heavy fuel oil. Furthermore, Coal-electric power generation saw an important SOx emission decrease of 19% (37 kt) between 2019 and 2020, attributed to a decrease in coal consumption. 

SOx emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry exhibit a downward trend since the mid 1990s, with reductions between the years 2019 and 2020 resulting in a further decrease of 26 kt (10%). Upstream Oil and Gas Industry experienced a gradual decline throughout the time series as a result of a decrease in emissions from Oil Sands Mining, Extraction and Upgrading, and Natural Gas Production and Processing, attributed to better emission control technologies. The reductions in SOx from 2019 to 2020 can be explained in part by a 5% reduction in total crude oil production and a 2% reduction in natural gas production. Downstream Oil and Gas Industry also contributed to reductions from 2019 to 2020 with decreased emissions from the Petroleum Refining subsector. These reductions are mainly due to the closure of the Come-By-Chance refinery in Newfoundland and Labrador.  

The most significant decreases in SOx emissions from 1990 to 2020 include:

Figure 2–2: Trends in Canadian SOx emissions (1990 to 2020)

Figure 2-2 (See long description below)
Long description for Figure 2–2

Figure 2–2 is a stacked area graph displaying the four major contributors to national SOx trends. They are the following: Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry, Coal (Electric Power Generation), Upstream Oil and Gas Industry, and Other. Figure shows an important reduction in emissions between 1990 and 2020. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2020.

Figure 2–2: Trends in Canadian SO x (1990 to 2020) (kt)
Sector 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry 407 403 428 435 466 447 440 398 381 385 380 368 353 357 351 351 331 319 300 301 284 279 285 271 247 229 208 219 228 223 210
Coal (Electric Power Generation) 515 506 518 464 489 458 465 510 518 512 535 535 535 530 493 462 441 474 411 369 322 286 278 272 260 242 243 236 212 198 161
Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry 1 265 1 113 967 889 673 883 872 816 826 765 760 753 749 648 705 677 661 617 565 396 370 333 342 370 373 365 359 266 140 70 85
Other 822 770 756 792 742 715 735 737 703 663 655 651 629 660 656 601 457 434 382 329 310 305 295 279 271 238 240 235 233 223 195

Table 2-4: National summary of annual SOx emissions

Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
- Indicates no emissions

Ore and Mineral Industries (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 1 500 000 910 000 860 000 480 000 480 000 390 000 260 000 180 000 190 000
Aluminium Industry 31 000 48 000 63 000 57 000 64 000 66 000 61 000 57 000 61 000
Asphalt Paving Industry 740 650 720 570 610 690 690 620 560
Cement and Concrete Industry 48 000 45 000 54 000 23 000 24 000 23 000 25 000 23 000 19 000
Foundries 1 300 910 720 22 22 21 22 21 20
Iron and Steel Industry 36 000 29 000 30 000 22 000 17 000 18 000 19 000 19 000 15 000
Iron Ore Pelletizing 15 000 16 000 18 000 12 000 12 000 12 000 9 700 11 000 10 000
Mineral Products Industry 1 400 940 1 800 1 400 1 500 850 750 720 690
Mining and Rock Quarrying 83 000 15 000 12 000 2 400 2 600 2 400 1 900 1 900 2 100
Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry 1 300 000 760 000 680 000 360 000 360 000 270 000 140 000 70 000 85 000
Oil and Gas Industry (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 540 000 520 000 460 000 270 000 260 000 270 000 280 000 270 000 250 000
Downstream Oil and Gas Industry 130 000 140 000 110 000 44 000 50 000 47 000 48 000 48 000 35 000
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry 410 000 380 000 350 000 230 000 210 000 220 000 230 000 220 000 210 000
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 620 000 620 000 520 000 250 000 250 000 250 000 220 000 210 000 170 000
Coal 510 000 530 000 460 000 240 000 240 000 240 000 210 000 200 000 160 000
Diesel 430 440 330 160 73 74 120 130 37
Natural Gas 29 000 21 000 19 000 2 100 1 800 1 100 1 400 1 100 770
Waste Materials 0.76 1.4 - - - - - - -
Other (Electric Power Generation) 74 000 63 000 41 000 7 700 8 200 8 300 6 900 6 500 6 600
Manufacturing (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 230 000 160 000 150 000 49 000 45 000 42 000 45 000 41 000 35 000
Abrasives Manufacturing 4 000 860 860 - - - - - -
Bakeries 0.053 0.052 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 - - -
Biofuel Production - - - - - - 2.3 6.5 5.1
Chemicals Industry 38 000 31 000 36 000 23 000 21 000 18 000 20 000 18 000 15 000
Electronics 1 700 3 000 3 000 - 0.00 - - - -
Food Preparation 3 500 4 800 6 000 370 280 370 420 390 320
Glass Manufacturing 2 300 2 800 2 500 630 610 590 600 580 580
Grain Industry 230 210 370 510 530 490 340 330 200
Metal Fabrication 2 300 2 700 2 000 700 540 550 540 470 460
Plastics Manufacturing 340 24 3.9 - - 0.00 0.00 - -
Pulp and Paper Industry 140 000 78 000 66 000 24 000 21 000 22 000 22 000 20 000 18 000
Textiles 380 390 320 17 21 19 19 15 0.00
Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) 1 100 1 100 990 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Wood Products 3 200 3 300 3 000 590 600 600 530 560 480
Other (Manufacturing) 30 000 27 000 24 000 350 400 360 340 450 140
Transportation and Mobile Equipment (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 93 000 87 000 63 000 6 800 6 700 7 200 7 400 6 100 3 100
Air Transportation (LTO) 810 850 930 480 490 690 650 620 330
Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military 30 000 38 000 42 000 4 400 4 300 4 600 4 700 3 500 1 800
Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles 15 000 6 700 6 100 160 150 160 170 170 150
Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles 970 2 000 150 180 190 190 190 200 88
Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles 240 1 300 9.5 0.38 0.45 0.65 0.65 0.62 0.74
Light-Duty Diesel Trucks 170 78 52 2.8 3.2 3.8 4.2 4.2 3.4
Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles 570 130 110 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.0 2.9 1.8
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks 3 200 6 400 510 700 740 760 790 820 320
Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles 7 300 8 400 560 540 550 530 520 510 180
Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks 190 180 10 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.19 0.18 0.00
Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles 23 28 1.4 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Motorcycles 15 25 2.8 4.2 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.6 1.7
Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment  28 000 17 000 6 700 150 130 150 160 150 160
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment 1 400 1 500 83 80 80 83 85 84 36
Rail Transportation 5 700 5 400 5 000 48 45 51 52 53 49
Tire Wear and Brake Lining - - - - - - - - -
Agriculture (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 2 200 1 500 2 900 420 370 300 240 220 280
Animal Production - - - - - - - - -
Crop Production - - - - - - - - -
Agricultural Fuel Combustion 2 200 1 500 2 900 420 370 300 240 220 280
Commercial/Residential/Institutional (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 50 000 35 000 35 000 7 000 5 000 5 100 4 600 4 500 4 200
Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion 19 000 19 000 21 000 2 600 1 100 1 200 860 920 800
Commercial Cooking  - - - - - - - - -
Construction Fuel Combustion  1 900 620 1 400 530 390 310 250 280 470
Home Firewood Burning  1 800 1 500 1 300 1 700 1 700 1 700 1 600 1 400 1 300
Human - - - - - - - - -
Marine Cargo Handling  0.00 0.00 - 88 91 120 97 170 83
Residential Fuel Combustion 28 000 14 000 11 000 2 100 1 700 1 700 1 800 1 700 1 600
Service Stations - - - - - - - - -
Other (Miscellaneous) - - - - - - - - -
Incineration and Waste (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 1 100 1 400 1 300 1 700 1 400 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 500
Crematoriums 5.0 7.0 8.9 13 14 14 15 15 17
Waste Incineration 790 1 100 930 1 300 1 100 1 100 1 100 1 000 1 200
Waste Treatment and Disposal 350 300 310 380 220 220 220 230 320
Paints and Solvents (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 2.1 1.5 0.62 - - - - - -
Dry Cleaning 0.00 0.00 - - - - - - -
General Solvent Use - - - - - - - - -
Printing 2.0 1.5 0.62 - - - - - -
Surface Coatings 0.00 0.00 - - - - - - -
Dust (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total - - - - - - - - -
Coal Transportation - - - - - - - - -
Construction Operations - - - - - - - - -
Mine Tailings - - - - - - - - -
Paved Roads - - - - - - - - -
Unpaved Roads - - - - - - - - -
Fires (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sub-total 180 28 18 41 34 20 12 15 11
Prescribed Burning 180 28 18 41 34 20 12 15 11
Structural Fires - - - - - - - - -
Totals (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ore and Mineral Industry 1 500 000 910 000 860 000 480 000 480 000 390 000 260 000 180 000 190 000
Oil and Gas Industry 540 000 520 000 460 000 270 000 260 000 270 000 280 000 270 000 250 000
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) 620 000 620 000 520 000 250 000 250 000 250 000 220 000 210 000 170 000
Manufacturing 230 000 160 000 150 000 49 000 45 000 42 000 45 000 41 000 35 000
Transportation and Mobile Equipment 93 000 87 000 63 000 6 800 6 700 7 200 7 400 6 100 3 100
Agriculture 2 200 1 500 2 900 420 370 300 240 220 280
Commercial/Residential/Institutional 50 000 35 000 35 000 7 000 5 000 5 100 4 600 4 500 4 200
Incineration and Waste 1 100 1 400 1 300 1 700 1 400 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 500
Paints and Solvents 2.1 1.5 0.62 - - - - - -
Dust - - - - - - - - -
Fires 180 28 18 41 34 20 12 15 11
Grand Total 3 000 000 2 300 000 2 100 000 1 100 000 1 100 000 960 000 810 000 710 000 650 000

Note:
Refer to Annex 4.4 for more information on international marine navigation and air transportation reporting emissions.

Other emissions estimated in the APEI (tonnes)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Domestic Air Transportation (Cruise) 2 200 2 300 2 500 1 500 1 400 2 200 2 000 1 900 1 000
International Air Transportation (Cruise) 2 400 3 600 4 300 2 900 3 300 5 300 5 000 4 500 2 000
International Marine Navigation 50 000 73 000 85 000 5 300 5 500 5 700 5 900 5 000 3 400

Page details

Report a problem on this page
Date modified: