SOL steps in to offer No. 2 diesel fuel to BVIEC

Regional petroleum company, SOL St Lucia Ltd (BVI), is reportedly now in line for a contract to replace Delta Petroleum as the main provider of No. 2 diesel fuel to the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

A fuel supply agreement between the BVIEC and Delta Petroleum recently fell apart after Delta informed the BVIEC of its inability to continue to source and supply the required fuel under their agreement.

But SOL positioned itself to replace Delta when it submitted a bid recently.

While the contract has not yet been awarded to SOL, a release from the BVIEC said the electricity corporation has made progress in securing a “stable and reliable supplier” to deliver No. 2 diesel fuel for the purpose of producing electricity.

According to the media release, a bid was received on May 27 and opened on June 2 at a virtual bid-opening event where the media and representatives of the two agencies were present.

SOL submitted a total bid of $156,159,360 for supply of No. 2 diesel fuel at the Henry Wilfred Smith Power Station at Pockwood Pond for the period between 2022-2024. SOL also submitted a bid of $856,221.84 to supply lubricating oil within the same time period.

The St Lucian petroleum company also entered a third bid totalling $1,854,671.4 to supply No. 2 diesel fuel for the Anegada Power Station.

The BVIEC said it wishes to reassure the public that all efforts were being made to procure the necessary No. 2 diesel fuel for the continued production of electricity ‘in the intervening period’ prior to awarding any contracts.