Petrojam set to boost earnings from HFO-to-Asphalt

Completion of production facilities to yield additional US$2.4M (J$380M) annually

Upon reaching another milestone in its positioning as a multi-energy innovator, Petrojam recently commissioned facilities to boost production of bitumen (asphalt) from Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for both local consumption and export.

Since July, the state-owned oil refinery has increased its asphalt production to a projected 230,000 barrels annually, up from 84,000. This significant improvement in output will support Jamaica's infrastructure development and strengthen export capabilities. Petrojam projects additional earnings of up to US$2.4million (J$380 million) per year.

The project, conceptualized and designed by Petrojam's in-house cross-functional teams, and managed by internal resources, demonstrates the company's capacity to deliver complex capital projects with local expertise. HFO is first produced from high-sulphur crude oil, which then undergoes further processing under vacuum conditions to obtain bitumen or asphalt.

"We're always, in an innovative way, looking at solutions that enhance the suite of energy and infrastructure solutions we offer to Jamaica and the wider region," Petrojam's General Manager, Telroy Morgan, emphasized.

Major public and private infrastructure projects have been placing greater demand for asphalt for the completion of roadways and access points. Well-built roads keep society functioning, allowing the travelling public to move safely and freely.

The construction of asphalt roads from fossil-fuel based HFO represents a significant conversion that sequesters and therefore lowers carbon emissions. For decades, HFO was used mainly for power generation until the advent of newer, more carbon-friendly fuel sources. This is in keeping with its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework that fuels Petrojam's purpose to embed sustainable practices more deeply into its culture and processes. With this innovative approach to producing asphalt, Petrojam is repurposing more HFO in a way that cuts the oil major's climate impact - in alignment with global Sustainable Development Goals.

This positive development comes months after Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz announced during his 2025/26 Sectoral Debate presentation in parliament that work to boost the country's asphalt production capacity was far advanced.

Given the rise of more durable asphalt mixes and the advent of performance-related product specifications, Petrojam has been paving the way for major developments to happen, including the recent SPARK and REACH road and infrastructure projects, and the resurfacing of runways and tarmacs at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

"Beyond our innovative mindset, we take pride in our carbon-conscious approach to developing products that serve the national and regional good. We do it all while we continue to function as Jamaica's energy safety net - always there to keep our country going and growing," Morgan informed.