The Fuel Marking Division (FMD) of the Guyana Energy Agency continues to work ardently in the fight against fuel smuggling. As part of its mandate, the GEA dispatches teams of Inspectors across the different regions in Guyana to take and test samples of fuel to determine whether it has been legitimately imported into the country.
At the end of November, 2017 32,027 samples were collected from 12,033 sites representing 91 percent and 83 percent of the respective targets for 2017. The total quantity of fuel seized for the same period was 11,794 gallons of diesel and gasoline as the result of 28 discoveries of illegal fuel at various locations.
Additionally, five convictions, from ongoing prosecutions, have been recorded as at November 2017. According to Ms. Thandiewe Benn, Legal Officer of the GEA “…the five convictions recorded for 2017 brings the total number of convictions, since the implementation of the Fuel Marking Programme in 2004, to forty nine…”
Ms. Benn further stated that the work of the GEA in the interdiction of offenders is supported by the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard who provide critical support to the GEA.
In July, 2017, the GEA and GRA also executed a Memorandum of Understanding in an effort to continue cooperation and collaboration in the conduct and monitoring of petroleum operations. Under this MOU, both parties remain affirmed in their respective mandates, while continuing to ensure sharing of information, conduct of joint investigations and surveillance and use of mutual resources to guard against the scourge of fuel smuggling activities to ensure compliance with the Laws and Regulations of Guyana.