WAPA Secures Fuel Flexibility with Sol Petroleum in New 3-Year, $15 Million Deal

The Water and Power Authority's Governing Board on Thursday agreed to a three-year fuel supply contract with Sol Petroleum, after a six-month emergency agreement recently expired. Ahead of the hurricane season, WAPA had negotiated access to ultra-low-sulfur diesel from Sol, which would be trucked across from the rack at the Ocean Point terminal on an as-needed basis. This, officials say, provided a secure supply of fuel in cases where weather or marine conditions delay or prevent their usual sea freight deliveries. Forced to navigate through a historic financial crisis while prioritizing the continuation of operations, WAPA Chief Operating Officer for Electric Systems Ashley Bryan reminded board members on Thursday, “we don't have a significant amount of cash on hand to buy a $3 million or a $4 million cargo” to fill storage tanks and provide a 2-week buffer of fuel. However, on St. Croix “we can incrementally truck fuel into the plant at a $300,000 cash arrangement for a day and a h...