The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has warned the public after receiving reports of motorists and others turning up at service stations with drums, gallons and other containers to collect and store large quantities of fuel. The behaviour, the regulator says, raises immediate safety concerns and could strain local retail supplies, creating the appearance of a shortage where none exists.
FCCC Chief Executive Officer Senikavika Jiuta said the trend of bulk fuel collection is unnecessary because national fuel supplies remain stable. "Excessive purchasing quickly depletes available stock at service stations and risks creating artificial shortages," Jiuta said, urging consumers to purchase only what they need. The Commission flagged that sudden spikes in demand at individual outlets can leave other customers temporarily without access to fuel and put additional pressure on station operators and supply logistics.
Beyond supply disruption, the FCCC highlighted the serious safety hazards of storing petrol and diesel in unsecured containers or at residential properties. Storing large volumes of fuel at homes increases the risk of fires, explosions and toxic vapour exposure, the Commission said, and may also contravene the Petroleum Act 1970. The FCCC cautioned that individuals found to be in breach of the Act could face fines or imprisonment, underlining that legal as well as safety risks accompany unsafe storage.
The FCCC’s alert arrives against a backdrop of renewed concern about fire safety in recent months. The National Fire Authority (NFA) issued warnings earlier after an uptick in property fires and other incidents, noting that avoidable storage and handling practices often contribute to the scale of such blazes. Fire officials have repeatedly advised households and businesses to follow approved storage guidelines and not to keep large quantities of combustible liquids in improvised containers.
The regulator said it will continue to monitor reports from service stations and urged station operators to be vigilant about customers attempting to remove large volumes of fuel. Jiuta encouraged members of the public to report unsafe practices to authorities so they can be addressed quickly. The FCCC’s message is both a reminder to consumers to act responsibly and a precautionary step to prevent avoidable harm and market disruption.
For now, the Commission stressed that the national fuel supply is intact and that there is no need for panic buying. The FCCC’s intervention aims to head off a self‑fulfilling shortage driven by hoarding, while reinforcing that safe, lawful storage and sensible purchasing are in the interest of individual households and the wider community.
Leave a comment