The Methodist Church in Fiji has unveiled a $3.6 million service station in Davuilevu, Nausori, at Mataika Place. Operated by Lako Yani Retail Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the church’s business arm Lako Yani Management Pte Ltd, the project forms part of the church’s 10-year plan to develop idle assets to fund its core mission.
The Davuilevu service station sits on a 1,200-square-meter commercial lot and is one of two sites identified for development under the church’s asset program. The church’s venture with Mobil Oils began in 2020 with a joint-venture proposal. Mobil allocated up to $500,000 and provided an initial $450,000 to get the project underway, with an agreement to retain the Mobil brand on site. “People driving on the road know they can fill up their vehicle when they see Mobil signs on the road because they are an international brand,” said Sereana Qoro, chief executive officer of Lako Yani Management Ltd.
The station features four petrol pumps and a kerosene pump. It is designed to generate four streams of income: fuel sales, two retail spaces (which will be offered to Wasewase Davuilevu as a first right of refusal), and a coffee shop for customers. Construction took about 10 months, and the facility is expected to sell around three million litres of fuel each year. Security cameras will be installed and the operation will be remotely monitored from Epworth House in Suva.
This project aligns with the church’s broader development strategy, which envisions monetizing assets to support its mission. The Davuilevu station complements other high-profile ventures in the pipeline, including a planned shopping complex and the Lako Yani 10-story building on Stewart Street in Suva, as part of a wider program to fund church activities and community services over the next decade. The church’s broader expansion aims to provide funds for mission work while addressing community needs amid rising living costs.
Additional context from related plans indicates the church intends to use revenue from these ventures to support congregations and ongoing community programs, including measures such as adjustments to the regular congregational levy to help members cope with cost of living pressures.
Additional notes:
– The Davuilevu service station is part of a two-site development strategy, with the other site also earmarked for future commercial development.
– The Lako Yani group has signaled ongoing expansion plans, including a major building project on Stewart Street and potential broadcasting initiatives, reinforcing the church’s commitment to sustainability and community service through asset development.
– The venture signals a practical approach to funding church operations and outreach, rather than relying solely on donations or grants.
Overall, the opening of the Davuilevu service station represents a concrete step in the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma’s strategy to transform assets into revenue streams that support its mission and community programs, while maintaining a recognizable international brand for customers.
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