As Tropical Storm Melissa inches closer to Jamaican shores, the country’s critical energy infrastructure is shifting into high alert. The national petroleum grid—long regarded as a foundational pillar in times of crisis—has quietly initiated pre-storm continuity protocols designed to withstand sustained disruption, should the system face the brunt of Melissa’s impact.
According to high-level sources within the Ministry of Energy, operational reserves of refined fuel products have been stockpiled well beyond emergency thresholds. The national refinery and its downstream partners are now operating under elevated contingency protocols, a framework triggered only during severe national weather threats. This includes extended loading operations at key terminals and a dynamic redeployment plan that allows fuel to be routed swiftly between locations if damage or flooding impedes access.
On the aviation side, Jamaica’s aircraft refueling facilities have already confirmed robust inventory levels. Jet fuel and aviation gasoline reserves are now positioned to support uninterrupted refueling across commercial and emergency aviation corridors, securing the country’s airlift capabilities even under turbulent conditions.
In anticipation of potential flooding and road blockages, petroleum delivery schedules have been frontloaded—especially in western and southern parishes already weakened by weeks of saturated soil. Terminal hours in Kingston and Montego Bay have been extended to allow bulk haulers to complete their final pre-storm runs before conditions deteriorate.
While there has been no public indication of rationing or fuel scarcity, stakeholders within the private transportation and industrial sectors have reportedly been advised to complete any major refueling operations within the next 24–36 hours, given the unpredictability of Melissa’s trajectory and potential infrastructure risks.
The national response reflects lessons learned from previous storm events—where fuel logistics, not raw availability, became the critical choke point. This time, the Ministry appears intent on staying ahead of that curve.
