Delta denies Gov’t fuel inspectors access to storage facility
According to a source close to the company, two Government officers turned up at the Delta Petroleum Caribbean Limited storage facility to conduct procedural inspection of fuel allegedly without giving the required timely notice to the company.
While the Regional General Manager of the fuel company, Mr Bevis A. Sylvester, declined to comment, reliable sources told Virgin Islands News Online that the government inspectors are required by petrol industry standards to give at least 48 hours’ notice to allow the necessary safety and other requirements to be put in place by the fuel company.
One of the requirements of the visiting inspection officers is to provide their names beforehand; however, this was allegedly not done.
When word got around of this matter, which was described to this news site as a 'standoff, contact was made with senior management of HM Customs. Mr Dean Fahie, who is currently deputising for Commissioner of Customs Mr Wade Smith, said he was not informed of any alleged standoff between Delta workers and officials of HM Customs.
Our source also said it was not a standoff as there were no angry exchanges and resistance between the two parties.
According to the source, "Well I guess they gone back to the drawing table to do the right thing in the right way."
The fuel which was targeted for inspection this morning is currently up for sale by way of tender through the office of the Commissioner of Customs, Government of the Virgin Islands.
According to tender notice which is being advertised, the fuel amounting to 240,026.88 gallons of high sulphur #2 Diesel was condemned and fortified under the customs management and duties act 2010. It is currently stored at Delta Petroleum (Caribbean) Ltd., Pockwood Pond, Torotla and is to be sold 'as is'.
Interested tenderers would be given the opportunity to inspect the fuel.
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27 Responses to “Delta denies Gov’t fuel inspectors access to storage facility”
Nothing of a standoff happened.
Under normal storage conditions diesel fuel can be expected to stay in a useable condition for:
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12 months or longer at an ambient of 20ºC.
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6-12 months at an ambient temperature higher than 30ºC.
As diesel gets older a fine sediment and gum forms in the diesel brought about by the reaction of diesel components with oxygen from the air. The fine sediment and gum will block fuel filters, leading to fuel starvation and the engine stopping. Frequent filter changes are then required to keep the engine going. The gums and sediments do not burn in the engine very well and can lead to carbon and soot deposits on injectors and other combustion surfaces