The Dutch company, Trafigura Beheer, will continue to lift oil on behalf of the country until an alternative dealer can be identified.
This is despite controversy still swirling about a $31 million 'donation' to the ruling People's National Party (PNP) by the company, which has said it was a commercial transaction.
On Tuesday, Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill, while making his contribution to the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, said that the company will, in the interim, retain the contract.
Competitive tender
Mr. Pickersgill said the board of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) has decided to go to competitive tender for a lifter for the new contract period October 2006 to September 30, 2007.
"In view of the fact, Mr. Speaker, that the tender process will take some time to complete, and since a shipment of crude oil has been nominated for lifting by Jamaica in November, Trafigura Beheer will continue to lift for the corporation in the interim,"
he said.
Mr. Pickersgill said the country would face a penalty if a nominated shipment was not lifted.
