The Editor, Sir:

In response to your editorial of July 26, 'Oil crisis provides opportunity for policy shift', you have sought to outline the stark realities that we face as a country.

As well-thinking citizens, our business, HMS Trading Partners, located in Mandeville, is getting on board to do something about it -- and fast.

To date, we have held a number of meetings with the minister of energy and other senior ministry officials, to sensitise them of these developments. We must add that we have been receiving tremendous support up to this point.

HMS Trading Partners aims to tackle this crisis on a number of fronts with the introduction of the following technologies and the exciting possibilities of companies to gain additional earnings from carbon credits.

FUEL CONDITIONERS

With oil prices soaring at these record levels, no likelihood of it ever receding and our continued dependence on it, we will be rolling out to the market, certainly within the next month, an advanced blend of fuel conditioners for three distinct applications. By extension, this will impact the sectors that are our heaviest users. Its usage guarantees a minimum 10 per cent fuel economy. These additives are designed for: 1) gasolene and diesel fuel - to reduce fuel and transportation costs in all sectors; 2) bunker C fuel - used in boilers eg bauxite power plants, and 3) power generation units eg JPS.

FUEL EMULSIFIER

We shall also introduce a fuel emulsifier for marine and diesel applications. Fuel emulsification utilises a state-of-the-art process that fully emulsifies water and hydrocarbons (diesel, gasoline or ethanol). The resulting 'green fuel' contains 20 per cent water. This means there is approximately a 20 per cent improvement in efficiency of hydrocarbon use which lowers fuel costs by up to 20 per cent.

WIND

The introduction of stand-alone wind turbine systems for homes, offices, hotels and remote communities, is also on our menu of alternatives.

SOLAR ENERGY

We also plan to lead the charge with improved technologies in this sector.

WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS

This will be a welcome addition to assist with the country's ability to deliver potable water on a more consistent basis.

We want to assure our fellow Jamaicans that we are all in this together. All is not lost and, here at HMS, we are confident in our abilities to make a positive impact in reducing our energy costs.

I am, etc.,

EARL McLAUGHLIN

hms.trading@yahoo.com