Fiji Fuel Retailers Asstn urged to reconsider self service

The Consumer Council of Fiji has urged the Fiji Fuel Retailers Association to reconsider about switching to self service.

Chief Executive Officer, Premila Kumar said the council is hopeful that right thinking of association will continue to provide bowser attendants to compete with those who do not as they believe that collective agreement made by the association is against the spirit of competition.

Kumar also said that removal of attendants will cause problems to those consumers who do not know how to use the pumps.

However, Fiji Fuel Retailers Association President, Baljeet Singh said there will signs at the fuel stations that will inform customers on whether they prepay or post pay for the fuel stressing that during the transition period one fuel attendant will be available.

Singh also said that a number of additional problems contributed to the dire state of the fuel retail industry such as lack of growth in the economy linked to world financial crisis leading to a reduction in sales revenue of about 10 and 20 percent.

He added that recent FEA tariff hikes led to an escalation of 31 percent in fuel station electricity costs.