(Jamaica Gleaner, 18.Feb.2019) — Newly appointed Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Fayval Williams yesterday summoned Petrojam’s technical team following a Sunday Gleaner story citing fuel concerns at the state-owned oil refinery.
In a news release yesterday, the ministry reported that Williams had been in communication with the board chairman, Paul Hoo, as well as acting manager, refinery optimisation and business support at Petrojam, Telroy Morgan, instructing that the technical team be gathered for a meeting at the ministry’s head office.
A full briefing on the issues was held to gain understanding of the matters at hand.
The ministry noted that all entities that interact with the industry, and have responsibility to ensure the integrity of the product, would be required to hold review meetings within a 24-hour period expected to end today. Reports from the meetings, according to the ministry, will be submitted to their respective ministers, copying Williams on the issue.
The ministry is taking the necessary steps and will update the country of any and all findings as soon as they become available.
A Sunday Gleaner article yesterday stated that despite denials from Petrojam that its supplies are not compromised, a source who has intimate knowledge of operational deficiences at the oil refinery has explained the source of the smelly gas and warned that it could undermine vehicle performance and threaten long-term damage. Auto mechanics have also confirmed vehicle-performance woes.
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