Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has moved to calm fears over rising fuel costs, assuring the public that there will be no increase in fuel prices for now after receiving an update on supplies at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. Rabuka told reporters the Government has been briefed on current fuel reserves and the schedule for incoming shipments, and that there is no immediate justification for higher pump prices.
“There should be no price hike,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Fiji already has its normal three months’ stock of fuel in the country. Rabuka said Cabinet had been given a presentation by representatives of the fuel industry during the meeting and had received assurances on both the quantity of fuel on hand and when the next consignments are due to arrive.
The Prime Minister also urged Fijians not to engage in panic buying, saying the situation “does not warrant panic buying” and reiterating that the Government is monitoring supplies closely. “We have been assured of the stock or supply we have, and when the next stocks will arrive,” he said, stressing that contingency measures are in place should circumstances change.
Rabuka explained that the Government has staged contingency plans that would be activated according to evolving indicators. “Yes, there are stages, and that will be discussed in the stages as the indications of our approach in their next state comes up,” he said, without outlining the specific steps involved in those contingency plans.
Cabinet’s receipt of a formal briefing from industry representatives is a notable element of the latest development, indicating closer government engagement with fuel suppliers. That briefing, delivered during the Cabinet meeting, formed the basis for the Prime Minister’s public assurance that there is sufficient supply to avoid a price increase at this time.
The statement is likely to provide short-term relief for consumers and businesses concerned about fuel-driven cost pressures. Fuel price changes have an immediate impact on transport, goods distribution and household budgets, so the Government’s assurance and the claim of a three-month in-country stock aim to stabilise public expectations while officials continue to monitor supply chains.
The Prime Minister’s comments are the latest public update from Government leadership on fuel supply and pricing. By confirming existing stocks, incoming shipment schedules and contingency planning, Rabuka sought to head off potential rushes at service stations and reassure Fijians that authorities and industry partners are coordinating to manage supply.
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