ATL Automotive to benefit from Low-Sulphur Diesel in 12 Months Time

And who are the greater criminals – those who sell the instruments of death, or those who buy and use them?

Robert E. Sherwood, Idiot’s Delight

The following stale news brought to you, dear reader, via this blog should bring a smile of satisfaction to the father and son duo of Gordon and Adam Stewart of Sandals Resorts International and ATL Automotive in Chairman and CEO capacity respectively.

Heck, Adam Stewart, who is also CEO of Sandals Resorts International since 2006 as stated in Gordon “Dutch” Stewart own newspaper, The Jamaica Observer in an article entitled “'Butch' Stewart names 25 year-old son CEO of Sandals Resorts”, published Sunday, November 12, 2006 by Desmond Allen, The Jamaica Observer also has his own blog, Talk To Adam Stewart! Flashy stuff!

But on to the News!

This as they have apparently scored a coupe in Automotive Sector in terms of a promise made by the former Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Karl Samuda to have the Sulphur content in Diesel Fuel lowered from 5000ppm to between 10ppm to 15ppm as stated in the article “CLEANER DIESEL - Oil Refinery Boss Says Upgraded Fuel In Next 12 Months”, published Sunday July 31, 2011,by Brian Bonitto, Special Assignment Editor, The Jamaica Gleaner.

This promise had been made in November 2011AD some seven (7) months prior as stated in the article “Government moving to improve motor fuel quality - Samuda”, published Sunday, November 28, 2010, by MARK CUMMINGS, The Jamaica Observer.

Now with this new announcement by PetroJam Managing Director, Winston Watson, under the new Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Dr. Christopher Tufton made the announcement at the weekly Rotary Club Meeting held on Wednesday July 27 2011AD, makes this a reality, quote: “We're looking to develop a Low-Sulphur fuel into the market in the next 12 months or so. For the last several years, we have been working with the government on a refinery upgrade programme that will allow us to introduce the fuel to Jamaica.”

Simply put, this announcement means that those Low-Sulphur Vehicles that ATL Automotive CEO Adam Stewart had an inkling to import can now be put into their plans – now, as (12) months from now is the July in the Summer of 2012AD, just in time for London Olympics 2012 in July 27^th 2012AD!

To quote the ATL Automotive CEO Adam Stewart back then in November 2011AD in the article “Government moving to improve motor fuel quality - Samuda”, published Sunday, November 28, 2010, by MARK CUMMINGS, The Jamaica Observer: “Clean fuel is the beginning (to protect the environment), getting access to the latest technology is (also) the beginning, but without bringing the duties down so that people in Jamaica can afford these cars under an environmental initiative, the problem will get worse”.

Curiously the father, Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart, at the time was more blunt in his Government of Jamaica directed comments, quote: “It is good to know that the Government recognizes the problem with the fuel. When it comes to the fuel, it is penny-wise and pound foolish because we are buying fuel that is going to destroy the engines and it really costs just a little more to buy the proper fuel.”

This time around, it was President of the JGRA (Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association) Trevor Heaven who had blunts words to say, criticizing this time how PetroJam proposed to achieve this transition to Low-Sulphur Fuel, quote: “They (the government) should take the bull by the horn and do it in one shot. It would be a total waste of time to have to install different tanks and pumps for this low-sulphur fuel.”

Despite these arguments, Diesel is still a Fossil Fuel. It still pollutes the environment despite the fact that it will have less Sulphur. The focus should be on reducing all Import Duty to 0% in exchange for New Vehicle Importers importing Flex-Fuel and All-Electric Vehicles. Not only that, the Government of Jamaica should encourage FDI (Foreign Direct Investors) and Local Investors to get licenses to enter and develop the Bio-Fuel Industry.

This in a bid to wean Jamaica off our dependence on Imported Fossil Fuels long term as stated in my blog article entitled “Alternative Energy and Diesel Sulphur Content - Casino Royale”.

Low-Sulphur Diesel makes ATL Automotive CEO Adam Stewart more money from selling Diesel-powered European Vehicles, quote: “This is not about money. This is not about debt, it is about the environment. Clean fuel is the beginning [of the process].You cannot go to Europe and buy [Vehicles with] the latest technology. They would not operate efficiently in Jamaica”.

Vehicles such as:

1. Audi
2. Volkswagen
3. Honda
4. Jaguar
5. Range Rover
6. Land Rover

President of the JUCDA (Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association) Lynvalle Hamilton also greeted the coming of the Low-Sulphur diesel with elation, quote: “I know a number of members [of JUCDA] who have imported Vehicles and the diesel fuel currently available has damaged their engines. Cleaner diesel fuel would, therefore, allow the used-car dealers to import a wider range of Vehicles and that would be beneficial to our industry.”

But a glimmer of hope and hence the reason for this blog post, is the fact that the new Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Dr. Christopher Tufton, is sticking to the previous Ministry guidelines set in place as it relates to the age limit of imported Vehicles. This means that only Vehicles that are less than five (5) years old can be imported.

This reduces the problem of vehicle dumping in Jamaica, a Developing World country, by more Developed World countries like the US, the EU and Japan, the Far East being where most of our Auto Imports originate. It also has the double whammie effect of forcing the New Vehicle Importers in Jamaica to import more fuel efficient Vehicles.

Like All-Electric Vehicles such as the 2011 Nissan Leaf and the 2011 Chevy Volt, which the Japanese are set to start throwing our way come 2015AD as stated in my blog article entitled “All-Electric Vehicles and Jamaica - Downfall”!

My blog article entitled “Alternative Energy and Range Extender Technology - Jamaica to Rhaatid” rounds off why Flex-Fuel, All-Electric Vehicles and specifically Range Extender Technology Vehicles with a lowered or 0% Import Duty will boost the sales of these brand new less-than-five-year-old Vehicles. Once we get some DJ’s and Media Personalities like Former Miss Universe 2010 Yendi Phillips to drive one.

The 2011 Chevy Volt is a more likely fit for Jamaica, being as it is uses Range Extender Technology as I have opined in my Geezam Blog article entitled “Lithium-Ion Batteries and Electric Vehicles – Alternatives as 2012 Supply Crunch Nears” and my blog article entitled “Alternative Energy and Jamaican Policies on Vehicle Importation - Gattaca”.

Already it has begun, with research at the University of The West Indies, Cave Hill Campus signaling that Bio-Fuel Research may be gearing for a major announcement soon of a Bio-Fuel License arrangement for FDI’s and Local Investors as stated in the article “UWI gets funding for biofuel research”, published Wednesday, July 13, 2011, The Jamaica Observer.

That and the fact that All-Electric Vehicles, which are now all the rage in the US of A, will be the next big thing in Jamaica, not Diesel Vehicles, as demand for such fuel-inefficient Vehicles does not really exist, merely being a temporary salve for the JGRA desire to sell Fossil Fuels as stated in my blog article entitled “All-Electric Vehicles and Jamaica - Downfall”.

Not to mention the impending shortage of Spare Parts for Used Vehicles, which should already be forcing many JUCDA members to consider going into selling New Vehicles as stated in the article “Spare Parts shortage hits used-car Trade”, published Friday October 22 2010, The Jamaica Observer.

Even LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) as stated in my blog article entitled “LPG and the Challenger Transport Co Ltd - A Cheaper Fuel” or Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in a Hydrogen Economy is preferable to an increased dependence on Fossil Fuels in Jamaica as stated in my blog article entitled “Alternative Energy and Diesel Sulphur Content - Casino Royale”.

Hopefully with considerations for the above coming flood of All-Electric Vehicles and Flex-fuel Vehicles, ATL Automotive CEO Adam Stewart has it in mind to import All-Electric Vehicles and Flex-fuel Vehicles.

This as the charging of these Vehicles would force JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) to have upgrade their Distribution Networks as was the case in the US of A as stated in the article “Utilities thrilled and worried about electric cars”, published November Tuesday 23 2010, The Jamaica Observer.

Not only that ATL Automotive can generate revenue in terms of the servicing of Lithium-Ion Batteries and the installation of Solar powered All-Electric Vehicle recharging Stations as stated in the article “Honda debuts Solar-powered charging station”, posted December 22, 2010 by Jamaipanese.

This as there is an impending Lithium Supply Crunch in 2012AD which will affect the All-Electric Vehicle Market as chronicled in my Geezam Blog article entitled “Chinese Crisis in Rare Earth Metals – Afghanistan is Silicon Valley’s Savior” and my blog article entitled  “Lithium-Ion vs Hydrogen Fuel Cell - The Living Daylights”.

A necessary switch from Fossil Fuels like Diesel to Bio-Fuels are part of Jamaica’s essential Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) by Peak Oil in 2015AD!