Mark Titus, Business Reporter

Mobile company Digicel has colour-coded the fuel used to power its cell towers dotted across Jamaica, saying the measure was meant to dissuade thieves.

Digicel Jamaica, which has about 1,000 cell sites nationwide, says 168 of them have been robbed at one time or the other of the diesel fuel that powers the towers.

In the past year, the company says, some 200,000 litres of diesel have been stolen. Each site has a capacity of 150 gallons, or just under 570 litres.

The fuel sells ex-refinery at just under J$55 per litre, but sold as high as J$80.79 last year, oil prices were peaking on the world market, making it the most expensive fuel sold by the Petrojam Refinery. At the mean price, the loss to Digicel would be about J$13.6 million.

Two arrests were made in Portland, but Digicel believes that the robberies are thefts of opportunity carried out by different, unconnected persons.

Compounding the problem is the fact that many of the cell sites are in remote locations that are difficult to monitor on an ongoing basis and consequently, very difficult to secure.

Digicel, as a result, has changed strategy from prevention to detection and deterrence through prosecutions.

Special green dye

The company has contracted an overseas manufacturer to make a special green dye as a unique identifying marker.

"That way, if someone is caught with green-coloured fuel they can be charged since per contract, that colour dye is supplied only to Digicel in Jamaica," said corporate affairs manager Jacqueline Burrell.

"We also have strips that are used to detect trace elements of the dye in the event someone tries to dilute the fuel."

Digicel would not disclose the name of the dye manufacturer but said the company was based in Miami.

Sunday Business understands that fuel theft is widespread across the telecoms and bauxite sectors, but none of the companies contacted was willing to speak on the issue.

In Digicel's case, the company is investing money and time to break the back of the problem.

According to Digicel head of facilities, Donovan Betancourt, geographical constraints have made it difficult to nab trespassers.

"The sites are located in remote areas, so these individuals cut the fences and carry out their act, and by the time our security team arrives, they are already gone."

And even when the suspects are tracked down, it is difficult to prove that the fuel in their possession is Digicel's property.

"With fuel having a uniform colour, you could not distinctly say whether or not it was taken from your facility, so now we have dyed our fuel and with its own DNA tracking even if you dilute it, it still carries the colour," said Betancourt.

Police agreement

Digicel said the two arrests arose from working closely with the Bureau of Special Investigations, a unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force .

"We have an agreement with the police and they will now be getting more aggressive when investigating these incidents now that they can identify that the fuel is actually stolen," Betancourt said.

"It is a very organised operation, so the police will not only be targeting those persons who stole it, but even those who receive it."

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com