ExxonMobil is to spend £500m ($651m) on upgrading a UK refinery partly to boost the production of low-sulphur fuel.
The work on the 270,000-barrel-per-day Fawley plant would add new processing facilities, the Financial Times reported, citing Fawley manager Simon Downing.
A new hydro-treater unit and hydrogen plant will be installed.
Downing said the IMO's new 2020 rules on low-sulphur fuels will boost its business case as the plans go before the company's board for final approval.
