Overview

There is no fuel production in Haiti; all combustible is imported. There is also no refinery. Fuel arrives ready to be consumed.

Type of fuel imported:

• Gasoline 91,
• Gasoline 95,
• Gasoil,
• Kerosene is imported together with smaller quantity of JET-A1 for the air transportation industry.
• And Crude oil commonly called MAZAOUT is imported as well for Central electricity purposes.

Haiti used to receive all its petroleum products from Venezuela under a regional agreement called PETROCARIBE, however, after the cessation of the PETROCARIBE program around 2019, mainly because Venezuela had difficultly managed to have significant of product to supply the market, Haiti imported the petroleum via the international market and receive by vessel. However, despite being a monopoly of the Haitian Government for years, since 2021, considering multiple constraints preventing the state to place orders on time, the government was obliged to authorize some large local distributors to import their own cargo of fuel like DINASSA, BANDARI, SOL, ETC. 

During the 2010 earthquake emergency response fuel was imported also from the Dominican Republic, to cope with the shortage resulted from the crisis, but this parallel importation was only allowed for a few weeks. Set up of contingency stocks is recommended especially up country where no large public or private facilities are available. Fuel is delivered only by ship and a change in a ship delivery or a missing delivery could cause distribution shortage.

Fuel cost greatly impact on the trade sectors, increase of fuel price caused large scale of protests in the country.

Fuel Pricing

Since December 10, 2021, there have been new fuel tariffs, resulting in the doubling of diesel and kerosene prices, and a substantial increase in gasoline in Haiti. The gallon of gasoline goes from 201 to 250 Gourdes, diesel from 169 to 353 Gourdes and kerosene from 163 to 352 Gourdes.

Seasonal Variations 

Haiti not being a fuel producer, in addition to its very limited and centralized storage capacity, is causing a lot of pressure on the use of the product in the country. Quite often, and even too often, the petroleum product is not available in the market at all. Therefore, consumers have to deal with recurring shortages which sometimes created a generalized panic.

Shortages can also be related to importation problems, high demand and /or any unforeseen ongoing situation in the terminals as there all place in red zone. Any gang fighting or else can impacted even the distribution of fuel in Country.

Thus, we have observed during these past months, regular importation rarely sufficient or enough to supply local needs and consumption as there is no contingency stocks at national level and any delay of vessel caused shortages.

Fuel Transportation

Fuel is received in Port-au-Prince at two facilities (Varreux and Thor) and then distributed from the capital through different private fuel distributors around the country. This transfer is done by road with fuel trucks. Each company has its own fleet of trucks, but to meet the needs, they also sub-contract part of it to private operators. Transportation infrastructure and fleet are not always sufficient to handle current domestic needs as well as increased demand from the humanitarian community.

Standards, Quality and Testing

For information on Haiti Fuel contact details, please see the following links: 

4.6 Haiti Fuel Provider Contact List

4.1 Haiti Government Contact List

Overview

The transport sector in Haiti is marked by the fact that most of the providers only own small fleets; and many times outsource transports to other private owners. Trucks available are not always well kept and services can then become insecure. Losses are often registered, also due to security situations. Traffic accidents are also common. Even if enough transporters are registered for the Port-au-Prince area, it's difficult to find adequate services in the regions where minimum acceptable standards are not always met. WFP uses private assessed transporters, and also its fleet of off road trucks, because many locations are inaccessible for local providers.

For information on Haiti Transporters contacts and fleet size details, please see the following document: 

Haiti Transporters Contacts & Fleet Sizes

Overview

For information on Haiti additional service provider contact details, please see the following link: 4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Vehicle Rental

Many car rental companies are available in country, even international companies such as Avis and Hertz. Cars can be rented with or without drivers and different kind of vehicles are available. Prices are higher than in other countries. Locally owned companies are present also in departmental capitals. A shortage of rental cars was registered after the 2010 earthquake, which lead to a massive development of the sector. 

Taxi Companies 

There are no UNDSS-approved taxi companies operating in Haiti. Many private owners offer taxi services on the street, but these are not recommended, also due the rather bad conditions of the these cars. Some organized services are available, but as mentioned, not approved by UNDSS.

Freight Forwarding Agents

Some companies offer an integrated freight forwarding service. However, the most important part of the process is the custom clearance, for which the hiring of a good Custom Clearance Agent is paramount.

Handling Equipment 

The biggest provider of industrial machinery is the local CATERPILLAR dealer, HAYTRAC  (https://www.haytrac.com/about-us/) who also provides rental services for different type of equipment, such as forklifts, generators and light towers.

Electricity and Power 

The electricity sector in Haiti is largely government-owned. The main responsible body in charge is the Ministère des Travaux Publics, Transport et Communication ((MTPTC).

Electricity is not granted 24/7 and sometimes technical problems or lack of fuel interrupt electricity delivery. During the day industries are receiving the power instead of the residence. Most of the International Organizations produce their own electricity through the extensive use of generators. Pilot projects of solar power have been launched, but have a marginal impact on electricity production, which still relays on imported crude oil and some hydroelectrically produced MW.

Electricity in Haiti is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second.

Electricity of Haiti (EdH) generates electricity with water power, and diesel or fuel oil generators. However, the bulk of production is provided by thermal power plants. Currently, the EdH has three independent power producers who feed the network both in the metropolitan area and in the provincial towns. EdH transports the electrical current of its production facilities and those of its suppliers to sub-stations, from where it is further distributed to the areas of consumption. EdH has two high voltage overhead lines, 115 KV and 69 KV. EdH supplies its clients with electrical energy via its distribution network. EdH has six substations in the metropolitan area, that distribute electrical energy over 32 circuits. Other provincial cities are isolated centers, and they have small distribution groups, with the exception of some of them, like Cap-Haitien, Jacmel, and Les Cayes, who have their own medium size crude oil generators. According to various sources, only about 12.5% of the population has regular access to electricity (approx. 12 hours per day) with average outages for 6 hours depending on towns and neighborhoods.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Three internet service providers are also present in country, and satellite and microwave connections are available. Most of the providers gain access to the net through the Dominican Republic or via satellite.

For information on Haiti additional service provider contact details, please see the following link:  4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Labour is regulated by the Haitian Labor Code. A minimum wage is not always respected as controls are non-existent. UN agencies and NGOs often pay warehouse workers at a per MT rate, instead of a daily rate. The rate varies among organisations and changes subject to inflation, security and other factors. The information in the table below reflects the rate of July 2022 as a reference only.

Land lines and fax lines are not available since the 2010 earthquake. Desk phones work with SIM cards. Various mobile phone providers are present in country, which made the sector a competitive market with relatively low prices for the users. UN Agencies and BINUH are also using radio communication equipment, and so do most of the NGOs in order to comply with security rules. Three internet service providers are also present in country, and satellite and microwave connections are available. Most of the providers gain access to the net through underwater sea cables, but also via the Dominican Republic using microwave links, or via satellite as backup.

For more information on Haiti Telecommunications contact details, please see the following link: 4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Telecommunication Regulation

The only regulating body for telecommunications is Conseil National des Télécommunications (CONATEL)

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

The Humanitarian Telecom System is mostly based on the UNDSS radio network. UNDSS manages a single radio room in Port-au-Prince but there are plans to extend coverage to a few other points of interest in the country, allowing better coverage for Humanitarian Organizations (UN and NGOs).

For more information on Haiti Telecommunications contact details, please see the following link: 4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List.

Haiti Food Suppliers, Accommodation and Other Markets

For information on Haiti contact details, please see the following link: 

4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Main Food Suppliers

Food supplies are mostly imported from abroad, including rice, which became the major component in Haitian kitchens.

Food suppliers are importing commodities, mainly from the United States and the Dominican Republic.

Accommodation

Hotels authorized by WFP after structural and security clearance

For information on Haiti accommodation, please see the following document: 

Haiti WFP approved hotels October2011

For information on Haiti contact details, please see the following link: 

4.7 Haiti Additional Service Provision Contact List

Overview

There is a lack of data in general but for Port-au-Prince, 2,450 metric tons of municipal solid waste are generated per day - more than 900,000 tons per year, mainly organic waste though a growing percentage is plastic waste (data from 2015). Generally Haiti has a poor waste management infrastructure, leading to severe health and environmental issues, such as flooding, air pollution, respiratory ailments, diarrhoea, dengue fever, and cholera. The  average solid waste production rate in Haiti is 0.7 kg per day. There is also a lack of equipment, funding, and proper safety and environmental standards.

Service Métropolitain de Collecte des Résidus Solides (SMCRS) lacks financial resources and has problems in maintaining equipment, limiting the agency’s effectiveness. Haiti also has a very weak legislative framework. In 2017, a law was passed creating a National Solid Waste Management Service (SNGRS), although this was never enforced. In 2012 & 2013, two presidential orders were passed banning the importation of black polyethylene bags and expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) for single-use food packaging.

Waste Collection

Waste collection is approximately 12% nationwide, 37% for Port au Prince. The majority of the waste is left on the street or dumped in drainage canals, causing serious flooding after heavy rains. There is an active informal waste collection sector.

Waste Management Regulations

There is no national system for waste collection or management, leaving most municipalities without any formal structure.

Waste Management Service Providers

Municipalities and the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC) are responsible for solid waste management and are technically in charge of waste collection. The Metropolitan Solid Waste Collection Service (SMCRS) works in PaP - only municipality with a waste collection service. Private companies are also involved in waste collection for households who can afford it.

Landfill Status

Truittier is the only municipal landfill in the country. Waste is deposited without treatment less than 100 meters from the coast, with no protection against the flow of leachate into the soil. there is a significant contamination of soil and water, exacerbated by medical waste and hazardous substances which are also dumped at the location. Outside Truittier, most waste is disposed of in open dumpsites, accounting for 62% of waste disposal in Haiti.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.