Fuel Overview

Dominica does not have any domestic hydrocarbon resources. The island’s energy supply consists of about 90 percent imported oil products and 10 percent renewables, combustible renewables and waste as well as hydropower. About 70 percent of the country’s electricity is produced from oil products, with the remaining 30 percent coming from hydropower. Generation capacity stood at 22.4 MW, with 16 MW coming from the Fond Cole and Portsmouth diesel plants and 7.6 MW coming from the three hydro power plants Laudat (1.3 MW), Trafalgar (4.46 MW) and Padu (1.88 MW). Electricity prices in Dominica are among the highest in all of the Eastern Caribbean States, varying between 0.26-0.31 US$ per kWh. (Castalia Consulting, 2012; Dominica Electricity Services Ltd, 2012; Organization of American States, 2010).

The vast majority of energy, around 90 per­cent, is imported in the form of oil products. Dominica imports a total of 916 boe/day. About 45 percent of oil products (411 boe/day) are used to generate electricity, with an additional 63 boe/ day coming from hydropower. Losses during generation, distribution, and transmission total 329 boe/day leaving 147 boe/day for final consumption. In total, final consumption of Dominica is 691 boe/day.

The transportation sector consumes more than 40 percent of energy with 271 boe/day, followed by the commercial sector with 196 boe/day, the residential sector with 131 boe/day, the industrial sector with 86 boe/day and other at 9 boe/day.

The Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Ports and Public Service is responsible for all matters related to the energy sector. It coordinates all activities related to the development and expansion of elec­tricity production and distribution and is responsible for the expansion of renewable energy sources. 

For more information on government and fuel provider contact details, please see the following links:  4.1 Government Contact List and 4.7 Fuel Providers Contact List here.

Information may also be found at: http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/ which is updated monthly. 

Fuel Pricing 

Price controls are regulated by the Supplies Control Act No. 21 of 1979. The Minister in charge of trade is allowed to fix maximum prices for any goods, at wholesale and retail levels. The number of products subject to price controls are 5: gasoline, diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, and cement. Prices of petroleum products are adjusted every four weeks on the basis of international prices.

Seasonal Variations  

Fuel Transportation 

Dominica does not have any of its own oil and so has to import all fossil energy. Oil products are used for power generation. Dominica buys all its oil from Venezuela through the PetroCaribe Agreement, which gives it favourable buying terms, such as only paying a limited upfront cost on oil transactions. The PetroCaribe Energy Cooperation Agreement was signed on 29 June 2005 by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and President Chavez allows for the provision of gasoline, diesel and liquid petroleum gas to Dominica. 

PDV Caribe (Dominica) Ltd. has been a supplier of gasoline and diesel to Dominica for thirteen years and have 71 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Agents around the island. 

Dominica currently has three importers (PDV Caribe Ltd, Rubis West Indies and West Indies Oil Co.) of petroleum products who are the industry wholesalers and retailers, responsible for the importation and supply of the full range of oil and gas used on the island including aviation fuel, LPG and Bunker C. Fuel made available to these suppliers is refined in Trinidad, Curacao, Venezuela, and Panama. MTBE is added to gasoline in a typical ratio of 4 to 5 percent. Sulphur content in diesel may range from 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent while gasoline is usually between 92 to 95 octane. Government currently controls the price at which product is sold on the local market. The importers and retailers operate under fixed pricing schemes which are determined by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Consumer and Diaspora Affairs. The schemes establish wholesale and retail prices under which the importers and retailers must operate and also ensure that local retail prices to the consumer reflect price changes in the international marketplace. 

Internal transportation is carried out by tanker trucks to the different districts.  Constraints to the companies are mainly road conditions i.e road breakage

Standards, Quality and Testing 

Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS), established by the Standards Act No. 4 of 1999, is responsible for developing standards and technical regulations.  The DBOS, which has been notified as the national enquiry point for the TBT Agreement.   The DBOS is under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing and is administered by the National Standards Council appointed by the Minister. 

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