(CNS): The Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg), established a decade ago to address myriad issues in the utilities and fuel sectors, has finally published its official Fuel Quality Standards 2027, which will take effect on 1 January. The standards cover gasoline, diesel and propane, setting the stage for ease of incorporation of greener renewable fuels going forward, the regulator said.
According to OfReg, the published standards mark a significant step forward in consumer protection, bringing rules on fuel quality, testing, labelling and action when products fall short together in a national framework for the fuels covered. It gives consumers clearer expectations of what they are buying, and provides a firmer basis for holding suppliers accountable for its quality.
“It gives consumers clearer expectations of what they are buying and provides a firmer basis for holding suppliers accountable for its quality,” said OfReg CEO Sonji Myles. “Whether you are filling your car, buying propane for cooking or purchasing diesel to run equipment, you should be able to trust what you are buying.
“Fuel should meet the quality and grade it is sold as, and there should be clear ways to check that it does. These Standards turn that expectation into practical protections. They set out what suppliers must deliver, how fuel quality can be checked and what must happen when a product does not meet the required standard. That is the consumer protection at the heart of this work,” he added.
The Standards will provide clearer information at the pump. Labels will be required to accurately identify the fuel, its grade and applicable rating, helping customers understand what they are buying. It must meet at least the octane rating displayed, and fuel must not be sold as a higher grade than it actually meets.
Rules on water in storage tanks, fuel-pump filters and clearly marked filling points will help protect fuel quality during storage and dispensing, and tests supported by law will provide a consistent way to check whether fuel meets the required standard, rather than relying on product descriptions alone.
The regulator also said that the sale of fuel can be stopped if it does not meet the requirements, with controlled arrangements for correcting the problem or dealing with the affected fuel. Where a stop-sale order is issued at a terminal or bulk facility, the operator must immediately notify all customers who received the affected product and arrange to replace it or bring it up to the required standard.
The Fuel Standards Committee contributed to developing and approving the Standards. It is chaired by the chief fuels inspector and includes appointees from the Department of Environmental Health, the Department of Environment and the Water Authority, whose combined expertise helped shape the standards, drawing on recognised international fuel specifications and testing methods.
The Standards will apply across all three islands and include limits on substances such as sulphur. Under the Dangerous Substances Act, they give fuel importers and operators advance notice of the requirements so they can prepare for compliance from New Year’s Day.
As well as setting the requirements for fuel products currently imported and used locally, the standards establish a framework that can be reviewed and updated to accommodate alternative fuels as Cayman’s needs change.
“This provides a practical basis for regulating greener and renewable fuels as they are introduced, supporting the transition away from diesel dependence while maintaining clear quality requirements and consumer protections,” OfReg said.
“The goal is straightforward: clearer information, fuel quality that can be checked, and accountability when standards are not met. Together, these measures provide a stronger foundation for consumer confidence in the fuel supplied in the Cayman Islands,” the regulator added.