Government refutes report that Jamaica turned away Cuban LPG tanker

The Government is refuting as false an online news report from an overseas publication claiming that Jamaica turned away a Cuban-registered tanker seeking to refill liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

“The report does not cite any credible source of information to verify its claims,” the Ministry of Energy said in a statement on Monday.

The ministry said that at no time was the Government of Jamaica or any private entity involved in the country’s oil and gas industry contacted to verify the report.

“It is important to note that the country’s sole oil refinery, Petrojam, a 100 per cent government-owned entity, has never exported LPG. Similarly, feedback from our private-sector counterparts in the oil and gas sector indicates that they also do not export LPG,” Energy Minister Daryl Vaz said.

“As it stands, Petrojam continues to be Jamaica’s largest importer of LPG for industrial, commercial, and household consumption locally,” Vaz added.

The minister warned that misinformation at this time could spark unnecessary fear and anxiety.

“The Government of Jamaica therefore continues to remind the public, especially users of social media, to seek information from credible news sources, including the Jamaica Information Service. Official, verifiable information can also be found on Government of Jamaica websites and the social media platforms of the respective ministers and government departments.”

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