The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating a trader on suspicion of hoarding fuel.
FCCC says this was identified during their nationwide monitoring and surveillance of fuel service stations.
CEO Senikavika Jiuta says they have carried out 478 surveys nationwide and their teams are on the ground assessing market conditions and supply availability across all major divisions, along with current fuel and LPG stock levels from retailers, distributors and service stations.
She says they have also noted localised issues, including supply constraints, logistical challenges, delivery delays and distribution limitations within each division.
FCCC says they are monitoring activities include checking for irregular market behaviour and ensuring traders comply with regulatory requirements, as well as reviewing distribution patterns and supply chain movements, such as the frequency of fuel deliveries and replenishment schedules.
They say based on their monitoring activities, key observations from the field indicate an influx of panic buying and stockpiling by consumers, as well as temporary artificial shortage of unleaded fuel.
FCCC says however, these shortages were temporary as stocks were subsequently replenished by the suppliers.
The Commission says their Enforcement Team also noted delays in fuel deliveries and to ensure that these delays were not linked to any attempt to hoard fuel, the officers verified that the fuel stations in question had placed orders on time, with the delay occurring at the supplier’s end.
Jiuta stresses their fuel and LPG monitoring has confirmed that overall, there is a stable supply of fuel, with adequate stock available.
She says traders in the areas surveyed said that they had sufficient supply and there were no widespread shortages.
Jiuta adds any shortages experienced have primarily been due to technical issues, supplier delays and artificial shortages resulting from panic buying.
