Gas bar fits NP upgrade exercise

The new service station or gas bar at the corner of Maraval and Tragarete Roads is just another  step in NP’s upgrade exercise, Energy Minister Eric Williams has said The first step in NP’s optimisation programme was the replacement of leaded with unleaded gasoline, Williams said, adding the second was the signing of a five -year lease and supply agreements in August with approximately 68 company-owned dealer-operated service stations across the country.  Gas Bars will soon be erected at Freeport, Chaguanas, Diego Martin, Cocoyea, Morne Coco, Aranguez and St Augustine.

All service stations, he said, would soon be outfitted with new pumps that have spill control features, underground storage tanks with secondary containment,  monitoring and overfill mechanisms that meet strict international environment standards, as well as a modern leak detection system. Williams also made reference to the ever- increasing size of the motoring public, saying that this called for more gas bars. “Although our domestic market is relatively small, it is growing by approximately 5% per annum,” he said, noting that 2,500 new vehicles were being licensed each month. The gas bar, the first of its kind, sits on 20,000 sq ft. The facility, open on a 24- hour basis,  provides for eight independent fuelling positions, six gasoline and two diesel pumps. The bar has a service target of three  minutes, thereby having the ability to handle up to 3,840 vehicle fillings within a 24-hour period. The bar will also soon be outfitted with credit card and debit card ability at the gas pumps.