Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda may buy enough diesel to cover several months of demand as his government weighs the risk of higher prices against a possible disruption in supply.

Speaking Saturday on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show, Browne said he had raised the idea with Gregory Georges, pointing to the country’s fuel storage capacity. He said a larger reserve could provide protection if diesel becomes harder to obtain.

The proposal carries a cost, Browne said. Buying months of fuel while prices are high could leave the government holding expensive stock if prices fall later in the year. That would limit its ability to pass any subsequent savings on to consumers.

“We’re better off having diesel at a high price than having none,” Browne said.

Browne linked the discussion to his concern about a possible restriction on U.S. diesel exports. He said such a move could have serious consequences for Caribbean countries that depend on imported fuel. He did not announce that an export ban had taken effect.

The prime minister said Antigua and Barbuda has been shielding consumers from some of the increase in diesel costs through subsidies. He urged residents to use less fuel where possible, saying continued price increases would put pressure on households and the government.

No purchase has been announced. Browne did not say how much diesel the government might buy, what a stockpile would cost or when it would decide whether to proceed.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Browne Says Antigua and Barbuda May Stockpile Diesel Amid Supply Concerns.