Georgetown, April 2018:The Legal & Licensing Division of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) serves to execute a primary function of the GEA through ‘monitoring the performance of the energy sector in Guyana, including the production, importation, distribution and utilisation of petroleum and petroleum products’ (s. 5(2)(c) GEA Act cap 56:05).
The preceding is further regulated and guided by the provisions of the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014 permitting the issuance of licences of the various categories (import, wholesale, retail, bulk transportation carrier, storage, export, consumer installation) and site and vehicle inspections to ensure safety and environmental compliance. These licences are required for the conduct of different types of activities concerning petroleum and petroleum products. Petroleum and petroleum products include diesel, gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuel, lubricants and LPG.
At December 31, 2017, the following summarizes the various classes of valid licences:
- 13 Import and Importing Wholesale Licences for importation of “fuels” i.e. diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and aviation fuel
- 22 Import and Importing Wholesale Licences issued for the importation of either lubricants and/or LPG only.
- 1 Export Licence
- 14 Wholesale Licences
- 113 Retail Licences: Petrol Filling Stations
- 464 Retail Licences: Others: LPG, Kerosene, Lubricants etc.
- 230 Consumer Installation Licences
- 630 Bulk Transportation Carrier Licences
GEA publishes annually in the Gazette a list of all licences issued in accordance with the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations. These numbers and licence holders are therefore a matter of public record.
In 2017 GEA’s Inspectors visited 12,882 sites and collected 33,891 samples, which resulted in twenty-nine (29) discoveries of illegal fuel and the seizure of over 11,000 gallons of illegal gasoline and diesel. The work of the GEA is supported by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard (GDFCG) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs.
It should be noted, that the percentage of sites found with significant dilution in at least 1 tank continues to be no more than 3% since 2010 with 2% being recorded in 2017. Apart from Georgetown, GEA continues to operate out of bases on the Essequibo Coast, Bartica and Linden. Further, routine and intelligence based operations continue to be done in various areas across the country as needed. For 2017, the GEA recorded 6 convictions. Compensation was accepted from 4 individuals under GEA’s legislation in the sum of $1,237,000.
For 2018, the Inspectors have visited 3,191 sites and collected 8,339 fuel samples in the first quarter of the year. This represents an achievement of 22% and 24% respectively for its annual target. Additionally, seven discoveries of illegal fuel were recorded and over 9,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel seized for this period. There were two convictions so far and three matters are ongoing.
The GEA wishes to remind all license-holders in the business of transporting, storing, retail, wholesale or importation of petroleum and petroleum products of their licensing obligations under the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014 and requirements for timely renewal through submission of requisite documentation.
The obligation of conformity through the licensing process supports the GEA’s rigid stance in stamping out illegal fuel smuggling through proper monitoring, enforcement and compliance.
The Guyana Energy Agency expresses gratitude to those who continue to co-operate and would like to encourage all persons who may have information relating to fuel smuggling and possession of illegal fuel to contact the Agency at 226-0394 or 629 3391 to assist its efforts in combating smuggling activities.