We have enough fuel but panic buying is drying up fuel pumps - TotalEnergies Managing Director

We have enough fuel supplies, it is the practice of fuel hoarding and panic buying by some people that is drying up some fuel pumps before the daily consumption amounts.

Those are the comments of Bhavana Samel, the Managing Director at TotalEnergies (Fiji) Ltd who says that they have seen the demand for fuel double in the last 10 days.

She says when they investigated this, they discovered that people are coming with multiple jerry cans and drums, and filling fuel in a vehicle more than once a day.

She says this is creating a shortage.

Samel says one person taking 600 litres of fuel is very concerning as it is a major safety hazard.

She stresses large amounts of fuel cannot be stored in enclosed places.

Samel says the other issue is artificial scarcity where those who can afford take large amounts of fuel, and those who purchase fuel when they get paid may lose out.

She says they have already stopped filing multiple jerry cans and drums of fuel for safety reasons and to stop artificial scarcity.

She adds it can also result in people hoarding fuel to benefit them economically when there is a shortage.

The TotalEnergies Managing Director says they have limited the filling of jerry cans and drums, and they will look at cases based on genuine need and essential services.

Samel says they continue to experience the situation where they refilled fuel at the normal amount plus 25 percent more at their service station at Laucala Beach yesterday afternoon, but by this morning, the site was dry.

She says they are only filling cars but questions how come cars are filling so much fuel.

Samel says as per Petroleum Act, an individual is supposed to carry limited amount of fuel at their residence or workplace.

She says the government can look into this.

She adds the filling of jerry cans and drums should be stopped.

Samel says we should also look at fuel saving measures like carpooling, work from home wherever possible and no fuel hoarding.

The Managing Director confirms the company gets it's fuel supplies from Singapore and Korea.

Samel says the global fuel market is very volatile and the Middle East crisis has not ended but for TotalEnergies, their supplies remain consistent.

She says in any given month, they have about two to three vessels that come from Korea and Singapore to replenish the stocks.

Samel says despite some other countries facing shortages, for Fiji, TotalEnergies' suppliers have confirmed that they will continue to supply fuel to them because the company has a long term contract with them.

She says in March, they started with some opening stock, one of the vessels has arrived in Vuda and then will come to Suva, another vessel is coming on the 22nd of this month, the third vessel coming in the beginning of April and a fourth vessel coming in the third week of April, and so on and so forth.