KINGSTON, Jamaica — Petrojam Limited, Jamaica’s state-owned oil refinery, announced Monday the successful restoration of fuel distribution operations from its Montego Bay terminal. This critical supply line to the nation’s western parishes had been inoperative for four weeks following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact in late October.
The company’s industrial loading facility in St. James parish, severely affected by the late October storm, has now resumed full operations after extensive rehabilitation efforts. Throughout November, the western region relied exclusively on fuel supplies transported from Petrojam’s primary terminal in Kingston, creating logistical challenges and extended delivery times.
Brian Case, Acting Reliability and Maintenance Manager at Petrojam, expressed satisfaction with the restoration progress: “We are delighted to have been able to reopen over the past few days. Our dedicated teams worked tirelessly around the clock to complete these essential repairs under challenging circumstances.”
The reactivated terminal has restored complete daily distribution capabilities for multiple fuel products, including 87 and 90-octane gasoline grades, ultra-low sulphur diesel, and specialized aviation fuel. Comprehensive rehabilitation work encompassed enhancements to delivery infrastructure, structural reinforcement of storage tanks and fuel pipelines, extensive debris clearance, and security perimeter repairs.
During the disruption period, Petrojam implemented innovative communication strategies, utilizing social media platforms to assist motorists in locating operational service stations through regular Fuel Station Finder updates. The company further emphasized that fuel quality standards remained uncompromised throughout the recovery period, maintained through their ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory facilities in Kingston.
As Jamaica’s sole petroleum refining entity, Petrojam’s operational restoration signifies a crucial milestone in the nation’s post-hurricane recovery efforts, ensuring stabilized energy supply chains to affected western regions.