The very recent fuel crisis that hit the country was a wakeup call for everyone involved in the fuel industry including the government, when the issue of the shortage of foreign exchange to purchase crude oil or finished products hit home.
Speaking on behalf of one of the country’s fuel distributing companie- Puma Energy, the Country Manager and Director Mr. Hulala Tokome said the solution to this matter is a sustainable solution on the supply of foreign currency for the purchase of fuel and not just a government intervention from time to time whenever there is a dire need for it because of another fuel crisis.
Tokoma said they need constant supply of foreign exchange to purchase crude oil and finished products like aviation fuel.
“When we bring fuel into the country, we’re actually bringing fuel by paying in US dollars for crude or finished products. So, when we do sell it into the market, whether we sell it to a mining company or whether we sell it to a commercial customer or aviation customer or even to retail sites, we sell it in PNG Kina.”
“So, in order to bring in finished products or crude, we need to pay in US dollars, that’s the particular issue we continue to face, having no access foreign currency.”
Nevertheless, despite the challenges Puma Energy has faced in very recent times, the fuel distributor continues to improve its services to its customers.
Today was testimony to that, when the refurbished Manu Auto- Port Puma service station in Port Moresby was re-opened for business after being closed for more than a year.
Mr. Tokome said the re-opening now means more service stations are available in the city to cater for the customers’ fuel demands.