On February 23, 2012, a committee of the European Commission will vote on details to implement an amendment to the fuel-quality directive that aims to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with transportation fuels. The proposal would essentially encourage the use of cleaner and lower-carbon fuels over those with a higher carbon footprint. This could have implications for Canada’s oilsands producers since, in general, more greenhouse gas emissions are produced in the extraction and refining of oilsands than in producing and refining conventional oil.
This backgrounder answers some frequently asked questions about how the European Union’s proposed fuel-quality directive could affect Canada’s oilsands sector and overall efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels.
