The government has moved to strengthen Fiji’s fuel security amid growing instability in global energy markets, appointing the Permanent Secretary for Public Works as the country’s fuel controller and agreeing to set up a Fuel Advisory Committee and a Cabinet Subcommittee for Energy, the cabinet said in a statement. Cabinet also approved drafting regulations that would allow authorities to prioritise fuel allocation to essential services and critical infrastructure if international supply disruptions occur.
Under the measures approved by cabinet, the Fuel Advisory Committee will be made up of “key permanent secretaries” and is intended to provide cross‑departmental policy advice on fuel availability and distribution. The Permanent Secretary for Public Works will be charged with operational control as fuel controller, a role designed to centralise decision‑making during any supply stress. The Cabinet Subcommittee for Energy will oversee broader energy‑related matters and guide a coordinated national response, the statement said.
The new contingency rules being drafted would give government the legal basis to prioritise distribution of available fuel stocks to hospitals, emergency services, utilities and other critical infrastructure. Cabinet framed the steps as precautionary, taken in response to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and attendant volatility in international oil markets that can disrupt shipping schedules and push up prices.
Fiji already maintains arrangements intended to secure up to three months of national fuel supply, the cabinet noted. Officials said the government will continue to closely monitor global developments, incoming fuel shipments and domestic stock levels, and that the newly created structures will help ensure timely, whole‑of‑government responses should supply conditions deteriorate.
The announcement is the latest development in the government’s efforts to bolster resilience across essential services amid an uncertain international environment. By naming a single fuel controller and creating advisory and Cabinet‑level bodies, the administration is seeking to streamline coordination between ministries and permanent secretaries, which could accelerate decisions on allocation, imports and possible rationing measures if required.
No timeline was provided for when the Fuel Advisory Committee will begin work or when the draft regulations will be finalised. The cabinet statement stressed the measures are precautionary and aimed at safeguarding national interests while keeping disruption to the public and business to a minimum.
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