ENERGY minister Phillip Paulwell has set a deadline of January 2016 for the completion of the expansion and upgrade of the state-run oil refinery Petrojam.
Paulwell, guest speaker on Monday at two Constant Spring Road-based service stations which have introduced the eco-friendly Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, said the construction had to be along that timetable.
|
A section of the government-operated oil refinery Petrojam.
|
“We have been told the new generating capacity of electricity will be in place by January, 2016, so we have to finish the expansion and upgrade of the refinery by then,” Paulwell told Auto.
Paulwell, the minister of science, technology, energy and mining, said he would advance the argument at tomorrow’s PetroCaribe Summit in Nicaragua.
Jamaica is one of 18 countries which benefit from the PetroCaribe agreement, drafted by the now deceased
KINGSTON, Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica ENERGY Minister Phillip Paulwell said the new Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), which was yesterday introduced to the Jamaican market, is essential in preserving diesel engines with advanced emission controls as well as protecting the environment. “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,” Paulwell told the audience at the special ceremony to launch the fuel at Petcom Dunrobin service station in St Andrew. “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.” According to Paulwell, the introduction of ULSD is a component of plans to improve the quality of fuel produced and expansion of the Petrojam oil refinery. “The production is in sync with the refinery expansion from 30,000 barrels per day to 50,000. The upgrade will enable us to improve our liquid petroleum gas, E-10 gasoline, automotive diesel oil, and jet/turbo fuel,” he said. Paulwell said manufacturers of diesel vehicles with advanced emission controls had refused to sell to car dealers in Jamaica as the fuel was not compatible with the new model vehicles. The new fuel, with a sulphur content of 15 parts per million, is expected to improve mileage on vehicles and be more beneficial to the environment. It will also see a reduction in exhaust smoke, sulphur emissions, and exhaust odour. Telroy Morgan, Petrojam’s production manager, told the Jamaica Observer that $120 per litre diesel is in accordance with the refinery’s pricing policy. “The ULSD will be sold at 10 per cent above the cost of regular diesel. The price is higher but efficiency is greater,” he said. Wayne Boothe, managing director of Petcom Dunrobin, expressed his gratitude to Petrojam. “The good thing is motorists were the ones who demanded this because of the effect it has on engines. The diesel is clean and it is better for our health, so I expect a great turnout throughout the week from motorists,” he said. The ULSD will have a light yellow [straw] colour, while the regular diesel will have a red colour to enable differentiation between the two fuels. As similar launch was held at Shell Gore Terrace in St Andrew. Read more: ENERGY Minister Phillip Paulwell said the new Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), which was yesterday introduced to the Jamaican market, is essential in preserving diesel engines with advanced emission controls as well as protecting the environment. “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,” Paulwell told the audience at the special ceremony to launch the fuel at Petcom Dunrobin service station in St Andrew. “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.” According to Paulwell, the introduction of ULSD is a component of plans to improve the quality of fuel produced and expansion of the Petrojam oil refinery. “The production is in sync with the refinery expansion from 30,000 barrels per day to 50,000. The upgrade will enable us to improve our liquid petroleum gas, E-10 gasoline, automotive diesel oil, and jet/turbo fuel,” he said. Paulwell said manufacturers of diesel vehicles with advanced emission controls had refused to sell to car dealers in Jamaica as the fuel was not compatible with the new model vehicles. The new fuel, with a sulphur content of 15 parts per million, is expected to improve mileage on vehicles and be more beneficial to the environment. It will also see a reduction in exhaust smoke, sulphur emissions, and exhaust odour. Telroy Morgan, Petrojam’s production manager, told the Jamaica Observer that $120 per litre diesel is in accordance with the refinery’s pricing policy. “The ULSD will be sold at 10 per cent above the cost of regular diesel. The price is higher but efficiency is greater,” he said. Wayne Boothe, managing director of Petcom Dunrobin, expressed his gratitude to Petrojam. “The good thing is motorists were the ones who demanded this because of the effect it has on engines. The diesel is clean and it is better for our health, so I expect a great turnout throughout the week from motorists,” he said. The ULSD will have a light yellow [straw] colour, while the regular diesel will have a red colour to enable differentiation between the two fuels. As similar launch was held at Shell Gore Terrace in St Andrew. Read more: MINISTER of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining Phillip Paulwell will tomorrow morning launch the Ultra Low Suplhur Diesel (ULSD) fuel at two service stations in St Andrew. The first launch will be at the Petcom Dunrobin service station at 8:30, followed by another at the nearby Shell Gore Terrace station. Both stations will join others in retailing the new product to the market, following years of complaints by owners of diesel engine vehicles about the quality of fuel that they get at service stations. ULSD is a fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 15 parts per million. The introduction of this fuel is also a response to consumer demand for diesel that is compatible with newer model diesel engines with improved emission-controlling devices.
MINISTER of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining Phillip Paulwell will tomorrow morning launch the Ultra Low Suplhur Diesel (ULSD) fuel at two service stations in St Andrew. The first launch will be at the Petcom Dunrobin service station at 8:30, followed by another at the nearby Shell Gore Terrace station. Both stations will join others in retailing the new product to the market, following years of complaints by owners of diesel engine vehicles about the quality of fuel that they get at service stations. ULSD is a fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 15 parts per million. The introduction of this fuel is also a response to consumer demand for diesel that is compatible with newer model diesel engines with improved emission-controlling devices.
THE EDITOR, Sir: IN RESPONSE to my letter published on Friday, January 25, and a response by Petrojam Limited on page A9 of your opinion page of Tuesday, January 29, I felt compelled to respond, as they mentioned my name and I found this article a bit disconcerting and arrogant in light of what is happening to this section of the consuming public. How can a product be said to be ‘up to par’ when it does not meet or exceed international standards? Why is Petrojam considering importing ultra-low sulphur diesel, until their refinery is upgraded? Isn’t this an admission that the present diesel oil on the market is not ‘up to par’? Countries and companies do not unilaterally set standards and have a minister with oversight for energy sign off on same and then say you have adhered to prescribed standards, nor does the ‘Government of Jamaica Petroleum Quality Control Act’ mean anything if they are not in keeping with international standards. To take it to the ridiculous, Jamaica might just as well start researching the setting of Jamaica Standards for Nuclear Fusion as this may be the answer to mankind’s future energy solution. For Petrojam to say that they have adhered to these standards and are in compliance with them is hogwash, when owners of diesel motor vehicles are suffering physical, emotional and financial stress because of this ‘up to par’ diesel oil. uneconomical product I am sure that, except for the bauxite companies, Petrojam has one of the largest contingents of chemical engineers on staff. These engineers should advise themselves that were the manufacturers of diesel engines to develop an engine to genuinely manage this high sulphur content, then the metal or alloy used would render the cost of that engine uneconomical, and what, then, of the emissions? There are protocols and standards which are recognised internationally by conventions and otherwise, that countries, even Third World ones like Jamaica, should adhere to. Jamaica does not manufacture diesel engines, so they cannot set standards for engines outside of the specifications of manufacturers who are adhering to international standards. In the article, Petrojam mentioned being environmental stewards and refer to the blending of ethanol, thereby reducing emission of lead. While this is commendable, it was not their environmental consciousness that achieved this but, rather, it was as a consequence of the main aim of reducing the cost of input into petrol to ensure greater profitability. HUGH SANDFORD (PE) Satyn@cwjamaica.com Read more: