Korea may ease sulfur limits

The South Korean government is considering easing sulfur limits on gasoline to help bring down domestic prices, energy officials said. The energy ministry is in discussions with related government agencies, such as the environment ministry, over a proposed plan to ease the limit on sulfur content in gasoline to 50 parts per million (ppm) from 10ppm currently. The country’s oil refiners, which have invested in building desulfurization units to reduce sulfur content to as low as 8ppm, are said to be opposed to the move. (September 21, 2009)