Policy to Support Innovation, Flexibility in Fuel Access Being Developed

The Government is developing a comprehensive policy that supports flexibility and innovation in fuel access.

Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the move comes against the background of growing demand for portable fuel stations, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

He noted that the Government is reviewing the current regulatory framework, and gap analyses are being conducted to inform the policy.

The Minister, in a statement in the House of Representatives on November 25, said that the demand for portable fuel stations was intensified by the hurricane’s disruption of regular fuel access in several western communities.

He said that the review of the regulatory framework is to “maintain the highest standards of public safety while ensuring swift action to meet urgent community needs.”

“To that end, we have entered into partnerships guaranteed to support the most vulnerable,” he said, citing the deployment of mobile mini fuel stations by Johnsons’ Petroleum to the impacted parishes.

He noted that the rollout of the mobile stations has advanced significantly following detailed site assessments conducted during the week of November 17 to 21.

The Minister informed that units for the fishing villages of Whitehouse in Westmoreland and Black River in St. Elizabeth are ready for deployment, and licences from Petrojam are already in hand.

Beyond the fishing communities, rollout to other priority areas will begin this week with Middle Quarters, Black River and Braes River in St. Elizabeth.

Additional locations will be announced next week as the remaining site assessments are finalised.