Ministry of Technology launches ULSD on Monday June 24th 2013 - Lower Sulphur in Diesel open possibility of the Bio-Fuel Industry Hammer of the Gods (2013) to wean ourselves of Imported Fuel

“The ULSD is expected to preserve our environment and make our vehicles last longer as sulphur contains pollutants. So lower sulphur means less exhaust and cleaner air. A number of our SUVs have the advance emission controls, so the introduction of the fuel makes the cost of performance cheaper and mileage good.”

Minister Phillip Paulwell at a ceremony to launch ULSD at Petcom Dunrobin service Station in St Andrew

On Sunday June 23^rd 2013 the much awaited ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) launch was announced to be launched on Monday June 24^th 2013 as stated in the article “Paulwell launches new diesel fuel tomorrow”, published Sunday, June 23, 2013, The Jamaica Observer. The new fuel, which has 15 ppm (parts per million) of Sulphur, a contaminant that‘s not removed during refining at Petrojam, is a fulfillment of promise made by former Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Karl Samuda in July 2011.

Back then the former Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Karl Samuda had promised 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.

The new ULSD fuel has been launched as of Monday June 24^th 2013 in a special ceremony by as per the article “Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel hits the market today”, Published Monday June 24, 2013 9:44 am, The Jamaica Gleaner and “New diesel fuel now at pumps”, published Tuesday, June 25, 2013 BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERT Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer. 

The launch took place at Petcom Dunrobin service station and the Shell Gore Terrace station, with Minister of the Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell officiating the launch at the Petcom Dunrobin Service Station. The move has been supported by most Gas and Diesel Retailers as stated in “Auto dealers endorse Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel”, Published Saturday June 15, 2013 7:10 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner and “RUBiS goes the ULSD way”, published Friday, June 21, 2013 BY BRIAN BONITTO Associate Editor — Auto and Entertainment, The Jamaica Observer albeit the Public’s response has not mirrored their enthusiasm.

But their early day yet as public perception is that it’s akin to the Ethanol laded E10, especially due to its light yellow colour. Eventually sales’ll pick up as anticipated in the article “Slow start for ULSD - Quick pick-up in demand expected”, Published Sunday June 30, 2013, by Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

This according to the rather upbeat President of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA), Derrick Thompson, quote:  “On Wednesday we tried to get a sense of what was happening. The uptake has been a little slow. I think people are still trying to get their bearings on this, despite the various publications on the places that they are available. But I think the uptake has initially been a little slow. In fact, however, I think as we progress in time, it will pick up”.

Quick facts about ULSD’s introduction in Jamaica – The Yellow Brick Road

The new ULSD is differentiated at the pumps not only by the higher price, which is 10% more than regular diesel but also by the fact that it’s yellow in colour whereas regular Sulphur laden Diesel is dyed Red as stated in the article “Red diesel fuel to flow from the pumps tomorrow”, published Sunday June 16, 2013, The Jamaica Gleaner.

 The higher price is unfair but justifiable as the new process involved to reduce the Sulphur content must have an associated cost, which the customer has to bear. Also the Red Dye in the older Diesel Fuel is the same type of dye used by Telecom Provider Digicel to identify its fuel in case of theft from their Diesel Generators located at their Cell sites, the only difference being it’s Green dye not Red Dye as per the article “Digicel goes green to nab thieves - Colour-coded cell tower fuel”, published Sunday January 25, 2009 by Mark Titus, Business Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

ULSD and Acid Rain - The Environmental Connection

ULSD is environmentally friendly and easier on your Diesel engine as it has fewer cylinders pitting Sulphur that causes uneven combustion that eventually burns to produce Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂), the main causative agent in Acid Rain. This as Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) goes into the upper atmosphere and falls back in Rainfall as hydrate of Sulphur Dioxide or Sulphuric Acid (H₂SO₄).

Albeit corrosive, it’s highly diluted and but still has an effect on buildings and plant-life, especially in the city areas but can also be observer in the countryside. Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) is also responsible for the production of smog, which is visible if you live up in the hills and thus have a chance to observe its formation early in the morning or in the late evening.

Thus the transition to ULSD will help to reduce the amount of Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) in the atmosphere and thus Acid Rain and Smog formation as argued by the Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill as stated in the article “Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel to Address Black Smoke Nuisance”, published Saturday, 29 June 2013 14:09 by ANDREA BRAHAM, The Jamaica information Service.

It’ll also go a long way to addressing concerns by the Health Ministries Director of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh Day Adventists Dr Milton Gregory as it relates to vehicles Smoke Pollution, which he felt should have been addressed via the Smoking Bang as argued in my blog article entitled “Adventists want Ban on Vehicle Pollution as Smoking Ban looms on Monday July 15th 2013 - Dr. Fenton Ferguson's Escape Plan leads to All-Electric Vehicles, Bio-Fuel and Citronella Candles”.

Benefits to the Automotive Industry and Jamaicans – More flex-Fuel Vehicle less Smoke

Obviously this’ll benefit ATL Automotive and other New Vehicle importers that import new Diesel Vehicles and Flex-Fuel Vehicles that can only work with ULSD, whose 15ppm sulphur content meets International Standards. Hopefully too, it’ll mean the GOJ (Government of Jamaica)will fulfill its mandate to expand Petrojam Refining capabilities by 2016 as promised in the article “Paulwell's Petrojam plan - Upgrade to be done by 2016”, published Friday, June 28, 2013 BY BRIAN BONITTO Associate Editor — Auto and Entertainment, The Jamaica Observer. 

Already they’ve got to the PetroCaribe Summit held on Saturday 29^thJune 2013 to get approval from Venezuela, who are part owners of Petrojam to push ahead with the upgrades to the Refinery as noted in “Jamaica to raise Petrojam upgrade at PetroCaribe summit”, Published Wednesday June 26, 2013, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Now that Minister Phillip Paulwell and has fulfilled this promise, will there be a start to the Bio-Fuel Industry via the opening up of Competition for Alternative Fuel Providers as argued in my blog article entitled “ATL Automotive to benefit from Low-Sulphur Diesel in 12 Months Time - Bio-Fuels Resident Evil Apocalypse” ?

Will this mean that Bio-Diesel, made either from Pyrolized organic matter, Castor Bean Oil or Recycled Cooking Oil may be licensed for production by interested entrepreneurs and eventually be made a part of Jamaica’s Fuel Mix as per my blog article entitled “UWI and YCWJ team up to Recycle Waste Cooking Oil - Yendi Phillipps on How to make National Bio-Diesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Insidious Chapter 2”?

And will we eventually see an increase in the Ethanol content of Gasoline from E10 to E25 or higher as being proposed by Minister of the Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell in the article “Paulwell mulls increasing ethanol fuel mix”, published Sunday June 23, 2013 11:12 am, The Jamaica Gleaner?

Stay tuned to this blog as this may be the start of the Bio-Fuel Industry Hammer of the Gods (2013) to wean ourselves of imported Fuel.