The Government and the Fiji Fuel Retailers Association (FFRA) moved quickly on Tuesday to calm fears of a local fuel shortage, saying Fiji currently has sufficient stock and urging motorists not to engage in panic buying sparked by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Cabinet is due to meet today to finalise longer-term contingency plans if the US‑Israel conflict with Iran continues to escalate.
The calls for calm followed visible scenes at service stations in Suva and Nausori yesterday, when motorists queued to top up vehicles amid reports of possible supply disruptions. FFRA spokesperson Sumeet Singh warned that such stockpiling would only create an “artificial crisis,” saying a sudden spike in demand could overwhelm the logistical capacity needed to distribute and replenish fuel at individual service stations and cause localised shortages. Singh also warned that hoarding could prevent essential services from accessing fuel for critical operations.
TotalEnergies Fiji managing director and CEO Bhavana Samel reiterated that there was no shortage on the ground and that her company was continuing to supply the country. “TotalEnergies Fiji is proactively managing its fuel distribution to ensure steady supply for the country while global fuel markets remain volatile,” Samel told this newspaper, adding that the firm had seen a sudden rise in demand and was urging motorists not to store large quantities of fuel in containers because of fire and explosion risks.
In an official statement issued before last night’s edition went to press, the Government said fuel supplies were sufficient to meet Fiji’s energy needs for the next few months and again warned against panic buying. The statement said authorities were closely monitoring developments related to the US‑Israel conflict with Iran and were in contact with local suppliers who had already secured shipments. It confirmed Cabinet would convene today “to firm-up on the plan of action for the long term, if there is no resolution to the conflict in the near future.”
The reassurances come amid broader concern over the stability of global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where earlier warnings from the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) had flagged the risk of higher prices and supply shocks if the waterway were disrupted. That warning, issued in early March, underlined Fiji’s status as a price taker on international markets and helped fuel public anxiety this week when news of the Middle East escalation intensified.
Authorities and industry leaders are emphasising that restraint at the pumps will help maintain supply resilience. FFRA and TotalEnergies both cautioned that panic buying not only strains transport and retail networks but also creates safety hazards from improper storage. The Government urged the public to rely only on verified sources for updates and said it would provide regular bulletins “as and when needed” to keep the community informed on supply status and any policy measures decided at Cabinet.
Leave a comment