GUYANA is seen as a country with great potential that has been thriving exceedingly well in the fuel industry, despite the challenges that come with the global economic setback. This is the view of SOL General Manager, Mr. Ken Figaro, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle at his Agricola headquarters.
Having begun operations here in 2005, with the acquisition of Shell properties and expanded in 2007 with the purchase of Exxon’s assets, since then the image of the Sol business has improved to a satisfactory level, he said.
Figaro said, even while there were a few legitimate issues before the debranding and  rebranding of the services could have been carried out, the wait was worth the while.
“When we took over Esso’s assets, we were working towards a two- year deadline. However we would have encountered some issues and were affected. Nevertheless, once that matter was cleared up, we started work,” Figaro stated.
Since then, he pointed out, there was rebranding of several service stations throughout the country, including the Regent Street and Mc Doom locations among others.
Figaro said Sol is in this country for the long haul and is geared towards development in the region, noting that it is ready and willing to grab any opportunity that may lead to the company’s betterment and Guyana’s.
“Guyana has a very challenging market and we see a lot of potential. Its market
is good. Guyana is down the road and the potential is here. No doubt about it,” Figaro said.
Sol, which has been steadily expanding in the Caribbean, with some 458 locations, envisages further growth within the next five years, he predicted.
Figaro said:”My vision in Guyana is to see our business growing to be a company that is customers preferred choice.”
He said rebranded sites at Ramsburg, Linden, Corriverton and Vreed-en-Hoop, McDoom and Regent Street have already started doing exceedingly well.
Meanwhile Figaro also announced that the Vlissingen Road Shell Service Station which is the flagship of SOL Guyana is expected to be up and running within a month’s time.
Addressing the business’s success, he said that the productivity level at any service station depends on its location.
“Some people don’t understand that success for these service stations comes with the location and an analytical process must be carried out before a station is constructed to have a productive business and most times this isn’t done,” Figaro remarked.
He disclosed that discussions have been carried out to have the card system introduced when purchasing fuel for motor vehicles. “Yes we have been looking at it but everything comes with time and it’s a process”
The Sol Group began operations locally in February 2005, at which point it acquired Shell’s petroleum distribution and marketing businesses in the Eastern Caribbean, having at least 23 locations in every country .
Following the purchase of Esso’s distribution and marketing assets in 2007, Sol Guyana Incorporated since embarked on, first, the debranding of the eight ex-Esso service stations in Guyana and then rebranding them as Shell sites.