Concerns were raised by members of the Opposition about fuel regulation legislation being “rushed” through Parliament without proper consultation with the industry.

The Fuels Bill 2022, which brings the regulation of the fuel sector under the remit of the Regulatory Authority, was passed with no objections.

Scott Pearman, the shadow home affairs minister, questioned whether the consultation was sufficient, saying the regulations were still being prepared, by the minister’s own admission. “The devil is so often in the detail,” Mr Pearman said.

Walter Roban, the home affairs minister, said that the policy has been worked on since 2015 when formulated under the previous administration.

He said: “There was consultation with industry when the Premier and I met with the fuel industry about the issues raised around fuel prices. I committed to meeting with the fuels industry, every fuel operator, wholesaler was there at the time, ensuring that they would get to see the proposed legislation in advance of us tabling. That happened. There was a two-week consultation period given to them — the wholesalers and the retailers. That happened.”

Mr Roban added: “This has been a well-known policy to the industry. We now have legislation that is informed by that policy and that is what we have here today.”

Mr Roban said the regulations, which are still subject to industry consultation, will cover applications for fuel licences, licence conditions, the definition of critical infrastructure assets, the prescription of rules, safety measures and service standards, consumer protection, the definition of offences, the prescription of penalties for offences, and objections and appeal.

Cole Simons, the Leader of the Opposition, said that his party had been given little time to consider the Bill. Mr Simons said: “The final legislation that prescribes the framework was tabled just last week. Fortunately, on Wednesday, we had a discussion.

“To do the public a service and to show the respect for members of the House, a meaty piece of legislation like this should be on the order paper for at least two weeks.”

Mr Pearman also questioned the RA’s ability to take on the regulation of a new industry saying the regulator would unlikely be prepared to do so within at least a one-year period. Mr Pearman said the RA had not yet adjusted its budget, adding: “One would anticipate that the budget at the RA would need to be increased for that.

“Yet further, the RA has not adjusted its staffing levels. This is an area where no small amount of expertise is required by those making these important decisions. Why are we pressing the accelerator to squeeze this Bill in?”

Mr Roban said the Bill would ensure “more effective management of critical infrastructure and effective monitoring and enforcement”.

He added: “This legislation will ensure that consumers will get some level of comfort that prices are what they should be and new fuels, which are on the horizon, can be integrated safely and seamlessly to Bermuda’s energy mix when they are eventually viable.”

Speaking on fuel pricing, Mr Pearman said: “If you want that fuel to be less expensive, it is the base cost that really needs to be looked at but unfortunately we, as a government in Bermuda, have very little ability to deal with that base cost and nothing in this Bill is going to change that.”