An oil refinery in the North Atlantic: environmental profile

Abstract

The logistics of an oil refinery in the North Atlantic are presented, the main pollution and emission sources identified and general environmental impacts discussed, including the transportation and handling of crude oil and oil products from the proposed refinery. Measures for minimising pollution and other detrimental environmental impacts, using best available technology, are studied and the desirability of locating an oil refinery in the environmentally fragile regions of the North Atlantic fisheries communities debated. As a case study, the Rey∂arfjör∂ur location on the east coast of Iceland is considered and the socio-economic impact of an industrial development of this magnitude (about US$2 billion) on this economically underdeveloped rural region in Iceland is discussed.

Keywords:

• oil refinery
• North Atlantic
• environmental impact