Energy minister warns against illegal trading in petroleum products

Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan called on citizens Saturday not to buy fuel from persons who have created a black market and are reselling the commodity.

She said apart from being illegal, this creates and health and safety hazard.

Several people have been hoarding fuel and some have been buying and reselling it since the shortage began one week ago. The minister said the shortage is due in part to the panic buying which is causing a higher than normal demand.

In a media release Saturday, the Minister noted the practice of gas-flogging is taking place at certain locations in South Trinidad.

She reminded citizens that the practice in illegal according to the Petroleum Act, which specifies that it is against the law for anyone to market petroleum products without a licence.

“In addition to the legal breaches, there is also the very important issue of the fact that selling fuel outside of the controlled conditions of the service station is a safety risk," she said. "These are highly flammable fuels and persons engaging in this gas-flogging are putting themselves and innocent citizens at very high risk,” the minister added.

Seepersad-Bachan again assured the country that Trinidad and Tobago through NP and the Bond at Pointe-a-Pierre has enough liquid fuels to service the needs of the motoring public. She said supply and distribution continues to be regular and there is no need for panic-buying.