KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley, has acknowledged receipt of the final report from the Petroleum Trade Reform Committee regarding last year’s reports of contaminated gasoline being sold to the public.

While voicing disappointment with the non-identification of a specific source of the gasoline contamination, Dr Wheatley said the Government would be moving hastily to examine the recommendations of the committee.

Among those recommendations to be examined are:

1) The re-establishment of a fully staffed petroleum inspectorate to, inter alia, regulate, oversee, monitor and evaluate the petroleum sector;

2) Legislative amendments to the Petroleum (Quality Control) Act and the attendant Regulations that aim to increase fines for breach of the Act as well as strengthen the stewardship requirements for importing and distributing petroleum products;

3) Introducing significantly stricter licensing conditions for all players in the sector which include importers, bulk distributors, retailers, haulage contractors and drivers; and

4) Testing of each shipment of gasoline imported into Jamaica to ensure conformance with Schedule 2 of the Petroleum (Quality Control) Act.

Wheatley said, “the aim is that adequate measures will be in place to ensure that all petroleum products are in keeping with established standards so as to minimize a recurrence of the contaminated gasoline saga.  Further, the country can be assured of the commitment of the Government to accountability, integrity and transparency in the gasoline sector.”

He further stated that, “As a matter of priority, we will be moving to make the petroleum industry safer in order to move Jamaica forward along the road to prosperity.”