Jamaica agencies to increase monitoring after `bad gas’ reports

The Petrojam plant
The Petrojam plant

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Bureau of Standards of Jamaica (BSJ) and the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority say they will be increasing their monitoring of the petroleum industry amid increased fear about another possible ‘bad gas’ episode in the retail trade.

In recent weeks, motorists have been complaining to The Gleaner that there is an extremely unpleasant smell from the gasolene they have been purchasing at some petrol stations in Kingston and St Andrew.

However, in a joint statement yesterday afternoon, the BSJ and the compliance regulatory authority said there have been no official complaints of engine damage due to any compromised fuel.

Renowned race car driver and auto mechanic, Lisa Bowman Lee, was quoted in the Sunday Gleaner as saying she and other motorists have experienced problems with fuel.

“It’s been going on now for quite a little while. Couple of persons have said that shortly after purchasing fuel they have major issues with the car and it just got engine damage,” Bowman Lee said.

But the standards and regulatory agencies said they must certify all fuel legally entering the market before the petrol is released into the market.

The agencies said fuel which fail the specifications is detained and barred from entering the market until found to be satisfactory.