Rubis Gas Station (RGS) and storage facility has upgraded its inventory at Ramsburg, Providence, East Bank Demerara with the installation of five new storage tanks which could hold the equivalent of 30,000 barrels of diesel and 240,000 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas.
RGS Chief Executive Officer Mauricio Nicholls said the company has effectively doubled its storage capacity by installing the 30,000 barrels diesel and the four 60,000 gallons LPG tanks.
Enumerating some of the problems encountered by RGS, Nicholls pointed to unreliable suppliers, and the problems encountered in getting fuel across the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
He said while the obvious step to take would be to terminate the partnership with the suppliers, the others were further away and transport costs would increase. He said he hoped government would render some assistance in this regard, adding that he knows the government has a lot of expenses and it was not a demand, but merely a suggestion.
As regards the Demerara Harbour Bridge, he suggested that maybe a bridge can be built which would allow freer access without worries about the weight of the trucks or the bridge’s closing times.
Nicholls said his company has a very strong relationship with the government and hope they will continue to grow together.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds praised Rubis as “one of the best fuel suppliers in Guyana.”
Speaking to a small crowd at the facility, the Prime Minister said RGS has stepped in when major fuel suppliers were disappearing.
The Prime Minister said Esso, Texaco, Shell and Chevron were all retreating from Guyana and the Caribbean because their franchises were expanding and they did not see the need to invest here because their profits would not be as bountiful, when compared to other international markets.
He said he was pleased that Rubis saw the potential in Guyana, and it was not a passive investment Rubis made, but one that was active and forward thinking. He said this has allowed the company to grow and it has contributed significantly to Guyana’s economy.
Hinds said Guyana was open to all investors regardless of nationality, race and religion. He said investors are selecting Guyana for investment. “We are not going to them,” he added.
Addressing reports of a shortage of fuel, Hinds said it has not missed his attention or that of Cabinet and he apologised for not doing enough to inform the public about changes in the energy sector.
Meanwhile, he said government is willing to invest more and Rubis and other energy suppliers will meet tomorrow to discuss various issues.
He noted that government was looking for alternative ways to sustain energy in Guyana and said liquefied natural gas is on the agenda as it was proven to be profitable by continuous studies.
The Prime Minister later toured the storage facility.
