Fiji’s onshore fuel reserves have been bolstered by a recent shipment but remain tight, the country’s transport minister said, as authorities prepare for a deliberate drawdown of stocks to make room for larger consignments in May and June. Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau told parliament on Tuesday that total fuel on land stood at 42.1 million litres as of April 27, 2024, after a shipment of about 17.2 million litres arrived on April 22.
That 42.1 million litres, combined with remaining confirmed shipments for April, brings “total consumed fuel available to the economy” to 67.44 million litres, Ro Filipe said. With national daily consumption averaging about 2.5 million litres, the current stock covers roughly 17 days of demand, while the combined available volume equates to about 27 days at current burn rates. The minister warned the ministry projects stocks will reduce to approximately 29.2 million litres by the end of the month — around 11.7 days of supply — representing about 29 percent of total onshore storage capacity, a level he described as expected and managed rather than alarming.
Ro Filipe emphasised the planned drawdown is logistical: “Fuel inventories must be drawn down to create the necessary ullage, that is, empty storage space to safely receive incoming shipments scheduled for May.” He said this is a routine part of the supply cycle and underlined ongoing commercial work to finalise shipping schedules. In his statement he also said a substantial volume of fuel — 118.55 billion litres — has already been paid for, with final shipping confirmations continuing; a portion of that fuel is expected to arrive in early May, and a further 17.2 million litres is confirmed for June.
If the incoming shipments arrive as expected, the ministry forecasts national stock levels will recover and exceed 59 percent of storage capacity by the end of May. To shore up resilience while schedules are finalised, officials are identifying additional buffer storage: 5.52 million litres are available at retail service stations and a further 7.2 million litres are held at Energy Fiji Limited facilities, with other depot capacity also being assessed.
The minister said his ministry is conducting daily monitoring of stock levels and consumption patterns “in real time” and maintaining active engagement with suppliers to expedite confirmation of arrival dates. Ro Filipe stressed the situation remains stable but requires close, continuous oversight given international market disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions and global supply constraints.
The government’s latest update aims to reassure consumers and industry that supply management is proactive: temporary reductions in onshore inventories this week are part of a planned cycle to accommodate larger imports, not evidence of imminent shortages. Officials will provide further updates as shipping confirmations are finalised and new consignments land.