Handing oversight of the fuel sector over to the Regulatory Authority will help to prepare Bermuda for an environmentally challenging future, the Junior Minister for Home Affairs said yesterday.

Lindsay Simmons told the Senate that the Act would provide a much needed revision that the fuel sector had not seen since 2018.

She added that the RA would provide a responsible framework that will guide the fuel sector to becoming more environmentally conscious.

Ms Simmons said: “If we don’t have a plan for the upcoming climate crisis, then we will surely struggle.

“Resiliency in the face of climate change is the main fight of our sector.”

The Act was tabled at the start of the month and will apply to those who sell fuel for cooking, heating and vehicles as their primary business.

It aims to improve efficiency and safety while also promoting environmental responsibility and healthy competition.

Ms Simmons said the Bill would offer a “further layer of protection” to critical infrastructure and environmental factors.

She added that companies will also have to provide proof of safety measures, solutions, plans and goals to receive licences to trade fuel.

The Bill does not transfer responsibilities for fire safety, planning or environmental health to the RA.

The definition of “fuel” will be specified as an item that provides fuel through combustion to separate it from renewable sources of energy.