Jamaica Gas Prices

A few days after PetroJam posted its response,  Gerald Cameron once again states the case ask revisit their information.

I am here to dispute that with facts. The reduction in our ex-refinery gasoline prices declined by an average of 37 per cent for unleaded 87 (from J$78.43 on July 17, 2008 to J$48.78 on January 7, 2009 (refer to Petrojam’s website). In Miami gasoline declined an average of 55 per cent (from US$4.13 on July 7, 2008 to US$1.87 on January 7, 2009 (refer to Gasbuddy.com ).

For the full letter: 
 http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090115/letters/letters2.html

Related:
Petrojam response to Pricing complaints

A shortage of E10, seems to be affecting the Jamaican Petroleum trade and fustrating tanker drivers, services stations and motorists. E10 was official introduced to the Jamaican Market on November 1, 2008  a suggested price roughly JM $2 cheaper than unleaded 87.  On Monday, November 24, 2008, fire struck and destroyed the ethanol cooling tower at PetroJam Refinery. This forced the goverment of Jamaica go overseas for ethanol to power the local trade. It is understood that by February, the cooling tower should be back in operation. In the meanwhile it appears a shortage has developed.

In the week ending December 20, 2008, Jamaica’s Minister of Energy, Clive Mullings, acknowledge that there was a shortage of the product due most in part to the strong demand of E10.  According to one report, the Minister said that, with some 62 service stations providing the fuel, demand has grown to as much as 8,000 barrels per week far exceeding expectations. President of the Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association, Trevor Barnes, while agreeing that there was a strong demand, pointed fingers at the inadequate loading bay facilities at the refinery and urged the MInister to do something about the matter.

On December 22, 2008, Radio Jamaica reported that there were problems with a malfunctioning pump that at PetroJam that left tanker drivers fuming unable to get E10 after waiting hours. Hopefully all the issues wil be resolved soon as promised by the energy minister in a Gleaner/Power 106 news report of December 23, 2008.

In that news item, Mr Mullings says Petrojam is not experiencing a supply problem, but a problem with the pace at which the fuel is being loaded. He says the ministry has installed a larger motor and has also corrected the problems, which have led to the delays.

We now will wait and see.

Sources: 

• E10 supply hits snag
• Shortage of E10 gasoline to be alleviated
• Mullings promises to eliminate E10 shortage

On the December 24, 2008, the Gleaner’s letter of the day raised concerns about PetroJam pricing policy. Today another writer join the call in his peice, writing to the editor. Here is a quote..

The present management of Petrojam is a hangover of the past government and has not changed its policies. The public needs a relief from high prices and Mullings should not forget that he can return from whence he came. The Government should realise that it is their inaction on important issues like gas prices why people are becoming so turned off from them.

You can read the rest of the article here…  http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081229/letters/letters4.html

You can read the related post here
http://www.jamaicagasprices.com.jm/blog/2008/12/24/petrojam-pricing-policy-questioned/

Remember you can also follow this discussion in the forum.http://jamaicagasprices.com.jm/forum/index.php?topic=15.0

Again we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all  the best for the new year.

The steady-sharp reduction in the price of OIL on the world market has not affected the price of gasoline to the Jamaican consumers as many would have expected. There has been little explanation from PetroJam. In today’s Gleaner of December 24, 2008, the letter of the day is entitled, “Peculiar PetroJam pricing policy”. Here is a quote

Petrojam has not explained to the motoring public why oil is going down on the world market and our ex-refinery prices are not anywhere in line with that trend. I’ll give a few examples.

Since early July, the price of a barrel of oil has fallen by 68 per cent (using the World Trade Index (WTI) prices (same as the so-called ‘Gulf Reference Price’ by Petrojam)) from US$141.06 on July 1 to US$43.84 on December 16 this year). Now Petrojam’s ex-refinery price for the following selected products have fallen from the peak on July 17 to the last listing on December 18.

You can read the rest at:
 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081224/letters/letters1.html

It is time that we as Jamaican consumers act, share information on the best prices and hold suppliers to a higher standard. 

You can follow the discussion on this issue at this link:
http://jamaicagasprices.com.jm/forum/index.php?topic=15.0 

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all  happy holidays and all the best for the new year.