Opposition Whip Jone Usamate has urged the government to produce a clear national strategy to manage growing uncertainty in global fuel markets, while reassuring Fijians that there is currently no shortage of fuel in the country. His comments, delivered amid rising public anxiety and reports of “out of stock” signs at several service stations, mark the latest intervention in a widening national conversation about energy security and price volatility.
Usamate warned that “the world is entering the most unpredictable fuel environment since 2007–2008,” saying markets had become “extremely volatile” over the past week because of rising tensions in major shipping routes. He said those developments lie outside Fiji’s control but will shape international prices in the coming months, and that the country should respond “with clarity, not fear.”
Addressing immediate public concern, Usamate stressed that fuel importers in Fiji currently hold several weeks of operational stock and that scheduled shipments to the country have continued. “I want to reassure every Fijian that our country has sufficient fuel stocks right now. There is no shortage, and there is absolutely no need for a rush on the pumps,” he said, while warning that panic buying could place unnecessary pressure on service stations and disrupt normal supply patterns.
Usamate invoked lessons from the 2007–2008 global fuel crisis, arguing those earlier measures—acting early, communicating clearly and cushioning vulnerable households and businesses—remain relevant and should shape preparations now. “The most responsible thing we can do as a nation is to remain calm and allow the system to function as it is designed,” he said, calling for “preparation, coordination, and steady leadership.”
He also highlighted emerging structural shifts in global energy markets, noting that an increasing number of countries are settling fuel purchases using alternative currencies. While he did not name specific nations or currencies, Usamate argued Fiji must be ready to adapt its arrangements so the country is not “caught off guard” by broader changes in how international energy trade is conducted.
The Opposition’s call for a formal strategy comes against a backdrop of government warnings and market adjustments earlier this year. The finance ministry has said it is monitoring international events that could influence oil prices, and some regional carriers have already adjusted flight operations in response to fuel availability issues at destination airports. Usamate’s intervention sharpens the focus on domestic contingency planning even as authorities maintain that immediate supply remains stable.
As the situation evolves, Usamate urged calm and clear communication between government, importers and service providers to prevent avoidable disruption. “Fiji has enough fuel. Our supply is stable,” he said, adding that while global events cannot be predicted, strengthening national readiness can reduce the impact of future price shocks or supply interruptions.
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