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<p>Reliable
industry sources indicate that Cabinet has approved a &nbsp;decision &nbsp;to
disband the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/PCJ-Building-Buzz.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9553" /></figure>
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<p>Questions sent to PCJ regarding the decision and disposal of assets were re-directed to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSET). Acknowledging receipt of the query, Camille Taylor Manager, Corporate Affairs and Communications , Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica said, “  We advise you to direct this query to the Office of the Cabinet and the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology.”</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Fayval-Williams-Buzz.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9554" /><figcaption>Fayval Williams, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology</figcaption></figure>
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<p>MSET&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to
say that it was engaged in stakeholder consultations and was not ready for
comment.</p>
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<p>Assets of the PCJ group
include the PCJ building in Kingston, Font Hill in St Elizabeth and the
Petrojam refinery.</p>
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<p>Petrojam operates the state
owned refinery, a 36,000 barrel per day facility located on Marcus Garvey Drive
in Kingston.</p>
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<p>As outlined on the PCJ
website, the company supplies Jamaica with a full range of domestic,
transportation and industrial petroleum products and “continues to be one of
the government’s largest revenue generators.”</p>
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<p>Shares in the subsidiary
which belonged to joint venture partner PDV Caribe, a Venezulan company, were
in March expropriated by the Government of Jamaica, which subsequently declared
that it was the 100 per cent owner of the refinery.</p>
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<p>Michael&nbsp;&nbsp;Hylton QC,
the attorney representing PDV Caribe which has made claims against the
expropriated shares, said&nbsp;that no response has been forthcoming from the
GOJ so far.</p>
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<p>The websites lists among the
group’s wholly owned subsidiaries Petrojam Ethanol Limited (PEL).</p>
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<p>&nbsp;The company’s major
function is the production, export and sale of anhydrous ethanol. PEL owns a 40
million gallon ethanol dehydration plant which is located at the Petrojam
Refinery Complex on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. The operation has been
mothballed for some time.</p>
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<p>Another subsidiary is the
Jamaica Aircraft Refueling Services, (JARS) which the PCJ website points out is
a joint venture between AirBP Amoco and the PCJ.</p>
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<p>The company provides
refuelling services at the Norman Manley International and Donald Sangster
International Airport.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;The company also owns
Font Hill, which NEPA documents indicates was once being considered by the PCJ
for a resort development.</p>
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<p>“The Petroleum Corporation of
Jamaica proposes to develop small hotels, residential lots and resort cottages
at Font Hill, St. Elizabeth on the coastal part of 1054.5 ha of land that it
owns and manages,” a NEPA report outlines.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;The proposed
development, &nbsp;obtained outline approval from the St. Elizabeth Parish
Council . It&nbsp; was planned to include &nbsp;seven &nbsp;small hotels (30
bedrooms each) ; &nbsp;117 cottages (1-4 bedrooms each); and a &nbsp;&nbsp;public
park and jogging trail .</p>
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