JUTC cracks down on fuel theft, saving taxpayers millions last month

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says the longstanding issue of fuel theft at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has been significantly curtailed.

 

Vaz, also the Minister of Science, Energy and Telecommunications, was speaking at a press conference this morning at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

 

The Cabinet minister said the estimated market value of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) stolen from the Spanish Town Depot is as high as $26,845,600 per month.

 

According the Vaz, if sustained for a year, the cost of fuel theft to taxpayers would amount to an alarming $322,147,200.

 

“To cauterise the illegal activity, in January, the JUTC executed joint operations with the Spanish Town Police, which resulted in multiple seizures of stolen ULSD and made significant arrests,” Vaz said.

 

The minister said the efforts included intelligence gathering, new and strict bus dispatch procedures, 24-hour police deployment at the depot, and ongoing operational collaboration with the police.

 

“The joint operations have significantly disrupted fuel thefts, resulting in a substantial drop in the take-on of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) at the JUTC Spanish Town Depot for February 2025 compared to previous months,” Vaz said.

 

He told the press conference that the deliberate action by the JUTC and the police to disrupt the fuel theft will save the Jamaican taxpayers millions of dollars.

 

The ministry provided comparative data of ULSD that was received at the JUTC Spanish Town Depot: in November 2024 it got seven tanker loads (219,254 litres), in  December 2024 it received eight tanker loads (250,570 litres), in January 2025 the depot got seven tanker loads (219,254 litres) and in February 2025 it received three tanker loads (93,600 litres).

Vaz said the saving to JUTC and taxpayers between the lowest and highest is $31, 394,000.00.

“I want to commend the acting head of JUTC, Former Commissioner of police Owen Ellington and Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake and the teams both at JUTC and at police hierarchy. This is a significant gain and we all know the history of this perennial problem that has been taking place. We will continue to sustain to make sure that we can get the figures even lower than where we are now,” Vaz said.

 

The minister also said the JUTC's fuel efficiency programme has progressed in its strategy of exploring a cheaper, more environmentally friendly fuel mix to power its fleet.

 

“I am pleased to report that of the average daily run out of 250 buses by the company, 120 are powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and another six by rechargeable battery. This represents 50.4 per cent of the operable fleet and has since September of 2024 resulted in significant fuel cost savings,” Vaz said.

 

- Andre Williams

 

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