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Fuel shortage being actively addressed – PM Hinds
– Rubis doubles local storage capacity
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said reports of a fuel shortage have not escaped his, or the
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds steps on a ladder that provides access to two of Rubis’ fuel tanks.
attention of the Cabinet, and discussions and reviews are currently being carried out. He also disclosed that a meeting will be held today with the CEOs of the various gas stations that operate locally to discuss the issue.
The PM was at the time delivering the keynote address at Rubis’ commissioning of five fuel storage tanks at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which have doubled the company’s storage capacity in Guyana.
Chief Executive Officer, Mauricio Nicholls, said the company values having a strong relationship with the Government of Guyana, and the opportunity to be able to invest in the country. He said since the French company first came to set up operations in Guyana three years ago, it has invested between US$7.5 and US$8M in its operations. The 30,000-barrel diesel storage tank and four 60,000-gallon LPG tanks are a valued investment by the company in Guyana, a Government statement of the commissioning said.
“We have rebranded our service stations which now have an image. We have invested in re-launching our LPG brand to Rubis gas. We have invested in modernising our fuel delivery fleet, we have acquired new trucks to provide better delivery service to our customers and we have invested in significant new storage facilities at Ramsburg, and we continue to invest. Presently we are investing in our berth.”
Nicholls explained that over the past three years, the company has invested significant amounts in Guyana.
”We believe that this is a very strategic market for us, because we see the facility for growth… because we know that we can generate returns on our investment and because we are committed to the concept of reliable supply and service to our customer base.”
Nicholls added that reliable supplies are a challenge for several reasons, among which is the fact that the reliability of the refineries cannot always be counted on. He added that this may also be due to other factors such as operational, mechanical, maintenance or labour issues. For Rubis, he noted, there is priority placed on reliability, as well as on safety.
In dealing with an unreliable supplier by sourcing from other refineries, Nicholls pointed out the logistical challenges in the Caribbean and Guyana which are found in the port areas. He noted that despite the constraints, if the Demerara River is dredged this would help.
Nicholls also pointed to the fact that if easier ingress and egress for vessels is allowed near the terminal, it would make things more helpful for the company and their buyers. He expressed the hope that a solution would be found which would work for Rubis.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Hinds told the gathering that good things are happening in Guyana. He said that after Esso and other gas stations left Guyana, the Caribbean and some parts of Latin America in the late part of the first decade of this century, he was relieved to hear that Rubis was taking over the operations.
”The Government, and for the years I have been with it, we have been maintaining an open door of welcome to all investors regardless of their nationality, religion and race. Whosoever would come and is prepared and ready to come into Guyana and to fit into our system and be a lawful and good citizen, we welcome them!” the Prime Minister said emphatically.
He added that when companies come into Guyana, it is not the Government of Guyana that does the selection but rather, the companies that select Guyana in which to invest. He added that the incentives are standard, and explained that local and foreign companies enjoy the same packages for similar kinds of investments. He stated that large investments require huge commitments and the Government’s packages for large investments reflect this fact.
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