Mark Sherman, vice-president of Irving Oil, said while there will be a number of pieces of new equipment installed, workers will inspect, clean, and refurbish other equipment to make it safe and reliable for the next five to six years.

Canada’s largest oil refinery announced the details of the project Thursday morning, calling it the largest maintenance project in the company’s history. The refinery’s output will be halved to about 150,000 barrels a day while the work is underway.

A notice from Irving Oil says the project, which will be revealed Thursday in Saint John, N.B., will be one of the largest private sector investments in Canada this year. And along with the maintenance work, the company may be getting ready for new American vehicle emission and fuel standard rules.

The refinery is a major supplier of gasoline to the northeastern United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued new standards that will lower sulphur content in gasoline in 2017.

The refinery will operate at half its regular capacity during the project. It’s a maintenance project that has been in the planning stage for two years. “Describe the project and give the public an opportunity to respond to it, make comments”.

“The public really need to have been informed and the Department of Environment should have insisted on an EIA registration document”.

Irving Oil did not respond on Wednesday to inquiries about emission levels.