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Heavy fuel oil ban comes into effect in the Arctic, with a big exemption
CBC
Opponents of heavy fuel oil (HFO) have vivid metaphors for it.
"It's a very sludge-like substance … it's described as the bottom of the barrel, literally and figuratively," said Andrew Dumbrille of the Clean Arctic Alliance.
It's cheap but dirty, and because of its tar-like consistency, HFO is nearly impossible to clean up if spilled.
Such accidents have happened in North America, like in Alaska. Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk, president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, has seen the impacts.
"They have impacted Inuit and Aleutian communities there and we have seen the devastating impact on the transfer of culture on living and the death of many marine species of both animals, mammals and birds," she said.
"I think it's not a matter of what impact it has had [in the Arctic], it's just a matter of when."
One would expect some fanfare over the ban on heavy fuel oil in ships crossing the Arctic, which comes into effect as of July 1, following a similar ban that's been in place in the Antarctic for more than a decade.
"Unfortunately there are loopholes that have been baked into the ban which was decided at the International Maritime Organization" in 2021, Dumbrille said.
That refers to the exemption for some vessels which have protected fuel tanks. They will have until July 2029 to comply.
Domestically-flagged vessels providing supplies, including food and fuel, can apply for a waiver to delay the transition to cleaner fuels for another two years, though Transport Canada said it has not received any applications for that yet.
In a news release, federal Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez said the ban will protect the Arctic from the disastrous effects of heavy fuel spills.
"Canada will always work with other countries, northern residents, and marine stakeholders to keep our environment protected for future generations," he said in the release.
But there are questions about how far the ban will go.
A 2020 study by the International Council on Clean Transportation found the current ban – with those exemptions – would only reduce the use of HFO in the region by 16 per cent.