Diesel day

Ultra-low sulphur fuel at the pumps tomorrow

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Tomorrow, a number of service stations will begin to offer ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) to motorists. This fulfils the mandate outlined by Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell in April during his Budget debate presentation.

According to the US Department of Energy's website, ULSD is diesel fuel with 15 parts per million or lower sulphur content than regular diesel, so it is cleaner and more refined. The sulphur content of ULSD is lower by 97 per cent than that in the diesel fuel previously available. Using ULSD is aimed at lowering diesel engines' harmful exhaust emissions, which will improve the environment.

Paulwell had said two Petcom service stations - Dunrobin in St Andrew and Portmore Parkway in St Catherine - would be offering the fuel. President of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, Derrick Thompson, has confirmed this, adding Petcom Braeton to the list.

Ixes-Roy Thomas of Rubis Energy Jamaica, Jamaica's Shell licencee, pointed out that 10 Shell service stations across the island will also be rolling out ULSD. These include the Shell stations on Windward Road, Liguanea, Water Lane, Manor Park and Gore Terrace in Kingston and St Andrew; Coral Gardens and Howard Cooke Boulevard in Montego Bay, St James; Bridgehouse in Spanish Town, St Catherine; Caledonia Road in Mandeville, Manchester; and Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth.

Service manager of Kingston Industrial Garage, Mark Raynor, explained that the type of diesel fuel previously available contributes to the degradation of the engine. "Our diesel has the high sulphur content. The high sulphur is generally not good for the diesel engine. It accelerates the wear of the engine. The low sulphur will reduce that wear and one will be able to get better performance out of the engine," Raynor said.

Raynor put the baseline cost of fixing a pickup's diesel engine at approximately $60,000. However, he explained that it could cost more, depending on the parts required. "I was working on a pickup the other day and I think it cost just that. It can be more depending on the parts it needs and will also cost more depending on the type of vehicle also. Some diesel pumps, it doesn't even make sense to repair them, depending on the damage," he said.

Raynor also said while it is likely that ULSD will cost more, the engine's life will be prolonged. Production manager at Petrojam, Telroy Morgan, added that the cost of ULSD fuel at service stations will be approximately 10 per cent higher than the current cost of regular diesel fuel.

Morgan also explained that service station pumps which will distribute the new fuel have to be completely sterilised if they were previously used for regular diesel. "Let's say today it (the pump) is used for regular diesel and tomorrow is used for ULSD. You would have to conduct cleaning of the tanks, pipes etc. The entire system has to be sterilised," Morgan emphasised.