Reported emissions in the refineries sector remained relatively consistent from 2011 to 2019. Reported emissions decreased from 178.2 million metric tons (MMT) CO₂e in 2011 to 177.6 MMT CO₂e in 2019, a decrease of 0.3 percent. Emissions reached their lowest point during the time series in 2012 at 172.6 MMT CO₂e and their highest in 2018 at 182.1 MMT CO₂e. From 2011 to 2019, production (measured as gross input to refineries in thousand barrels per day[1]) increased by 11.1 percent, meaning emissions per unit production decreased by 10.3 percent. Emissions per unit production have decreased due to shifts in production to more efficient refineries and/or implementation of energy efficiency projects (including flare gas recovery). The number of reporting facilities decreased from 150 in 2011 to 138 in 2019 because some facilities closed and a few very small facilities were no longer required to report.[2] However, overall operable capacity (measured in thousand barrels per calendar day) increased by 6.0 percent.[1] Expanded production at existing refineries more than offset production declines from refineries that closed.

[1]  U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Annual (accessed October 9, 2020) at: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_unc_dcu_nus_a.htm.

[2]  40 CFR §98.2(i)(1) and (2) describe provisions under which a facility may discontinue reporting.