STATE-RUN oil refinery Petrojam is in the process of seeking a supplier of the low-sulphur fuel which becomes available to the motoring public on June 24.

“We’re in the process of sourcing the fuel. Most likely it will be coming from the United States,” Winston Watson, Petrojam’s general manager told Auto. Watson said the low-sulphur fuel was not availabe from Venzuela.

“The ultra-low sulphur fuel will be 15 parts per million (ppm),” he said.

Locally, the general manager said he was in the process of meeting with the marketing companies.

According to Watson, the refinery now has a separate storage and loading facility and possesses a storage capacity of 50,000 barrels.

In February, Watson gave Auto a June deadline for the refinery’s overhauling.

Phillip Paulwell, science, technology, energy and mining minister, recently made the announcement that the new fuel will be available by June 23. The fuel would be introduced at two Petcom stations: Dunrobin in St Andrew and Portmore Parkway in St Catherine.

Trevor Heaven, past president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA), said the Government’s move was a “step in the right direction”.

He, however, said total “buy-in” may pose a challenge due to the fuel’s higher cost.

“You may have to have a total removal of the high-sulphur fuel just like what was done with the introduction of the E-10,” he said.

Derrick Thompson, JGRA president, suggested a more gradual approach.

“It will come in at a higher price, therefore, a gradual introduction may be the best way,” he said. We have to catch up with the rest of the world,” he said.

Hamilton said marketing company Texaco was in preparation for the new fuel.

The diesel fuel available in Jamaica is very high in sulphur and contains 5,000 parts per million (ppm), in comparison to 10 to 15 ppm which obtains in the First World countries. As a consequence, localy diesel – operated vehicles need more frequent oil change and regular servicing to maintain optimal efficiency.

Jamaica’s refinery Petrojam was established when the Government bought Kingston Refinery in 1982. In 2006, the Government sold 49 per cent of its shares to PDV Caribe, a subsidiary of Petréleos de Venezuela.