It seems highly likely that another fuel price inquiry will be proposed after it emerged that the existing members of the Fuel Consortium which operates the farm – Esso and Shell – are charging a third company TotalFinaElf £1.2 million to buy into it.The consortium have agreed a new lease for the land with the Harbours and Airport Committee after protracted negotiations lasting four years.
Under the deal the States will pocket £188,000 a year for 20 years.On Tuesday in the States, however, Senator Ted Vibert intends to ask for it to be referred back to Harbours and Airport pending a full investigation.’We have to make sure that Jersey is not being taken for a ride,’ said Senator Vibert.
‘Here we have two private companies making more than a million pounds from selling part of the consortium to a third party.
They say it’s a non-profit making organisation but we haven’t seen the figures and I think we need to be sure that the operation of the fuel farm has no impact upon the prices of fuel in the Island,’ he said.Harbours president Senator Len Norman says he will oppose the reference back as he believes it is strategically dangerous not to have a lease in place.
