Effective immediately, the government of Dominica has, upon request from stakeholders, approved the formal importation, storage and sale of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) by petroleum product importers and retailers.
According to Dominica’s Director of Trade, Matthan Walter, in the past, only High Sulphur Diesel (HSD) was formally recognized, sold and distributed throughout Dominica.
Walter stated that the USLD is a cleaner burning fuel that contains 97% less sulfur than low sulfur diesel.
“It is more refined and processed and therefore fetches a higher price on the international market,” he said.
He added that the retail price for the USLD will be sold at EC $17.53 per gallon, while the HDD will retail at EC $16.37 per gallon.
“Petroleum service stations or what we commonly call gas stations, across the island will be selling HSD and USLD based on the variety which they stock,” the director of trade advised.
He continued, “So we have two types of petroleum product diesel on the Dominican market now…and that is the reason why there is a difference or distinction in the prices of diesel. Some petrol stations that import Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel will be selling at a higher price. And those who import High Sulphur Diesel will be selling the diesel at a lower price.”
Just last week, Cabinet approved a reduction in the prices of petroleum products, gasoline, diesel, and kerosene for this regulatory cycle in Dominica.
As of September 6, the new price for gasoline is $16.38 per gallon, a reduction of $2.28 per gallon. The price of diesel has been reduced by $0.76 to $16.37 per gallon and kerosene has been reduced by $0.77 to $15.90 per gallon.
In a press release, the authorities assured the public that the government will continue to apply measures to cushion the impact of increased petroleum product prices until the retail price of each product returns to below EC $15.00 per gallon.
This includes a waiver of the customs service charge on gasoline and diesel (High Sulphur Diesel (HSD) and Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD); and a subsidy on the landing cost of gasoline and diesel amounting to EC$ 0.85 per gallon on gasoline and EC$ 0.21 per gallon on diesel.
Finally, I’d add that the largest body of knowledge regarding renewable energy in Dominica is an unlikely source: the cruising sailboat captains who visit Portsmouth Harbor and take their vessels to sea for anywhere between a week and a month at a time. Many have installed and maintain solar, wind, and lithium systems on their vessels to supply energy for lighting and other amenities but almost none have removed their diesel engines and installed electric engines because of the poor energy density of Lithium relative to diesel. A diesel powered boat could travel 150 miles or more on a tank, an electric boat with a bank the size of the tank might travel 35-40 miles.
Electric cars – although they have been market as a green solution – have many of their own problems. First is the environmental damage that occurs from the strip mining necessary to obtain the rare earth metals to produce the batteries for these vehicles. Second, a properly cared for ICE engine can be expected to last 1.5-2 times as long as an EV battery. Third, the cost of replacing an EV battery is astronomical: $35,000-$70,000 ECD. Finally, Lithium batteries at the end of their service life are themselves flammable toxic waste and few good recycling options exist for them. Half a suburb of Chicago was evacuated after a warehouse full of them caught fire last year. I would say the current course of the government is prudent.
Ulsd been around for do long. Engines built in the 2000s onward require ulsd. Yikes. Anyway better late then never.
“Effective immediately, the government of Dominica has, upon request from stakeholders, approved the formal importation, storage and sale of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) by petroleum product importers and retailers.”
So the Ministry’s Petroleum policy is determined by the interests of stakeholders? Who are these “stakeholders?”
I don’t own a vehicle so I can’t complane, but will we see the spike in food prices “go down” if and when fuel price go down. Papa met….
While we are on the top of gas stations why not have some gas stations open 24/7. Now I am not saying have people working there 24/7 most people use debit/credit cards these days have the option for the pumps to be working with debit/credit cards when no person can be there during late hours… It’s not hard to pump your own gas…
Why so many simple errors and typos?(Not just in this post but several others) You all can do better than that as one of our main news platforms. A simple proof read and this could be avoided.
ADMIN: We are humbled by your honesty and appreciate your feedback.
When will the government make moves to approve charging stations for electrical cars. When will the government put solar panels on all government building to save the state some money. Or when will the government look to plant trees in the city to provide some kind of shade and cool down the area that is laden with vehicles. also all these so called public government housing and health centers and schools being built, do they have renewable energy capabilities? especially if they will be used for shelters.
@If we knew better – Hold awhile dere. Electric vehicles & electric vehicle charging stations in a hurricane prone island such as Dominica? Electric vehicles in an island where the electricity generation/transmission/distribution can sometimes experience unplanned outages/issues?
Don’t be duped into buying in to this ‘electric vehicles in Dominica’ craze. It is an unrealistic, non-resilient and nonsensical idea from the climate change propagandists.