by Adelaide Kari – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Long car lines may become a common site in the nation’s capital, with no petrol available at Puma Energy fuel stations and supplies now being only made available at Mobil fuel stations in Port Moresby.
Mobil Retail Site Manager, Toinesa Durisi, reassured EMTV News that Mobil will have a steady supply of petrol.
Puma Energy, in a press release yesterday, advised that “refinery operations were suspended in April 2015 whilst resolution was sought with government as to the appropriate customs and licensing regime for the refinery to enable its continued manufacturing and import/export activity.”
Commenting on the issue, the Prime Minister said the decision by Puma Energy to stop selling petrol was their own commercial decision.
“Sufficient supply of fuel will be facilitated through other fuel companies increasing their deliveries to Port Moresby,” the Prime Minister said.
“Mobil and other providers are stepping up their supply to fill this gap and we will certainly have sufficient fuel to meet demand.”
Meanwhile, business opportunists have taken advantage of the situation by selling petrol outside Puma Energy fuel stations to willing customers at 2 litres of petrol for K25.
Diesel is available at both Puma and Mobil fuel stations, while unleaded petrol is available at Mobil stations located at Ela Beach, Waigani and Rainbow. Customers are advised to be prepared to be patient as queues are long.
