The Fijian government has moved from contingency planning to action, activating the first phase of its National Fuel Emergency Action Plan as global energy markets reel from an intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Information Minister Lynda Tabuya told the nation late on Thursday that the phased plan sets out clear, evidence-based triggers for stepped-up conservation and rationing measures — and urged households and businesses to begin cutting fuel use now.
“This is a step-by-step plan that guides how we respond as the situation changes. We will act based on clear triggers, not guesswork,” Tabuya said. She stressed that fuel is available across Fiji today and that national stocks remain above 50 percent, but warned prices are high and future shipments are uncertain. The ministry’s immediate priority is demand reduction to stretch existing supplies while officials work to secure alternative imports.
Tabuya outlined how the plan escalates: if fuel reserves fall to between 40 and 50 percent, Fiji will enter the plan’s second phase, focused on stronger conservation measures such as reduced use of government vehicles, limits on after-hours travel and possible consideration of a four-day work and school week. A drop to 30–40 percent would trigger stricter controls — limits on fuel purchases, designated refuelling days, reduced business hours and heavier reliance on working from home. A fall below 20 percent would see the nation declared in full emergency, with priority allocation for hospitals, transport, water, power and emergency services.
The minister said the recent April 1 rise in local pump prices reflected the sharply higher cost of replacing fuel stocks, not a current domestic shortage. “The price you pay today is not just for the fuel already here. It reflects the higher cost of replacing that fuel,” Tabuya said, linking the jump to disruptions from the Middle East conflict and pressure on major shipping routes. She cited a steep international price climb — from about US$95 a barrel to as high as US$230 a barrel in a short period — as the driver behind the higher import bill for upcoming shipments.
Fiji’s move comes against a backdrop of earlier warnings from consumer and supply agencies about risks to Pacific supplies if the Strait of Hormuz and other key maritime routes remain under threat. As a nation that imports all of its fuel, Fiji is exposed to global price shocks and shipping disruptions, which can translate into rapid local price changes and supply uncertainty within weeks.
Tabuya said the government will lead by example by cutting official travel and reducing use of government vehicles, and is urging the public to carpool, use public transport, limit non-essential journeys, save electricity at home and shift meetings online where possible. She also said authorities are engaging international partners to maintain shipments, while reassuring the public that normal purchasing behaviour should continue until further measures are required.
With particular uncertainty flagged for May and June, the administration framed the activation of the first phase as an early, precautionary step to avoid sharper restrictions later. “While fuel is available today, it is becoming more expensive. And that is why we must start using it more carefully now,” Tabuya said, underlining the government’s aim to keep essential services running should global conditions deteriorate further.
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