REGENCY Petroleum Limited (RPL), the western-based fuel retailer, has remained largely unshaken by Hurricane Melissa, with all but one of its service stations now back in operation following the storm’s passage.

The company confirmed that its Paradise service station in Westmoreland sustained some infrastructural damage, but restoration work is underway to have it fully functional by midweek.

“Fortunately for us, all locations are operational except for our Paradise location, which we are currently doing our restoration to make it functional. Some infrastructure has been damaged, the cosmetics, but to have it operational and functional, we are hoping to have it operational by the latest Wednesday morning,” CEO Andrew Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

All other locations, including its busy Negril and Savanna-la-Mar sites, continue to operate at full capacity amid heightened fuel demand in the aftermath of the hurricane. However, its filling station in Crawford, St Elizabeth, which supplies household cylinders, was not so fortunate; it was among the hardest-hit by the storm.

“That was badly hit. I would say that would have been the worst impact on us,” Williams said.

When asked to estimate the cost of the damage to the company’s filling plant, Williams said it was too early to determine the full extent of the losses. He explained that Regency Petroleum’s properties are fully insured and that the company is awaiting assessments from its insurers before beginning major repairs. Progress has been slowed by impassable roads and limited access to labour and equipment, which continue to hinder full restoration of operations. The company has, however, managed to continue bulk fuel deliveries using its fleet of trucks, ensuring supply to its network and major clients. Although the LPG division does not yet account for a large share of the company’s earnings, estimated at around 20 to 30 per cent of revenues, RPL is moving swiftly to bring the segment back online and resume full operations with support from its partners. As for its upcoming truck stop, construction remains on schedule despite the hurricane. The company recently began work on its first facility of this kind in Crawford, St Elizabeth, which will operate as a dealer-owned, dealer-operated station once completed. Williams reported that the project sustained no damage during the storm and remains approximately 40 per cent complete.

“There was no damage to the truck stop. I’m happy to report that construction will continue as soon as some form of normalcy returns and the road situation is addressed,” he said.

Although Regency Petroleum Limited’s gas stations in western Jamaica are open and operational, the company continues to face logistical challenges as demand for fuel remains high following the hurricane. Supplies have been steady, but the pressure to keep stations stocked has intensified, particularly in heavily impacted areas such as Negril. To maintain consistent service, RPL has been closely managing delivery schedules, adjusting routes, and monitoring fuel levels to prevent shortages. The process has required significant effort from staff on the ground but has so far been handled effectively. At the same time, communication difficulties in the western region have further complicated operations, prompting Williams to temporarily relocate to Kingston to manage operations. He explained that the move was necessary since the company’s systems are fully automated and rely heavily on technology, including Internet and phone connectivity, to coordinate deliveries and maintain efficiency.

“Communication in Westmoreland is a critical issue for us. It’s a main issue. So we’re not able to communicate properly. Just since today, I guess, Flow is back up. But I’m not sure about Digicel. And several people have access to Starlink, which is helping us a bit,” Williams said.

Williams added that his management team remains in Westmoreland, where most members have experienced some level of personal loss or property damage as recovery efforts continue.

“I have been settled since this morning. Got some damage at home, but we have settled; we have taken the time after the hurricane to settle down a bit. But I have to move to Kingston to continue business,” he told the Business Observer when questioned about his personal well-being.

Although the Paradise station remains closed for repairs, Williams noted that the company had already anticipated short-term disruptions and made the necessary adjustments to cushion any financial impact this quarter. He said Regency had forecast potential downtime due to the storm’s intensity and prepared contingency plans to limit losses. In its recent second-quarter earnings call in August, RPL reported its highest-ever quarterly profit, earning $36.03 million for the April to June 2025 period, up 36 per cent from $26.48 million in the same quarter last year. The company had previously set a goal of steadily increasing earnings to achieve its $100-million profit target for 2025, and despite the hurricane’s impact, those projections remain on track heading into the next quarter.

“Seeing that we have most of our locations up except for Paradise, we are not expecting any significant negative implications on the financials. This quarter just started in October, so we have completed one month already,” Williams said.

WILLIAMS… seeing that we have most of our locations up except for Paradise, we are not expecting any significant negative implications on the financials

RPL’s filling plant in St Elizabeth, which supplies household LPG cylinders, sustained heavy damage but is set for full restoration once access roads reopen.