A tanker carrying about 570,000 litres of fuel was expected to arrive in Vava’u today.
Radio New Zealand quoted Pacific Energy manager Paula Tupou as saying the vessel was in Nuku’alofa and would be in Neiafu today.
Tupou said the fuel shipment consisted of 230,000 litres of petrol and 340,000 of diesel.
The news comes only days after Vava’u businessman Tomifa Paea claimed the tanker bringing fuel to the petrol starved outer island could be delayed until October 8.
Paea claimed he had been told by sources outside Tonga that the tanker would be delayed.
The businessman spent TP$500,000 importing fuel from New Zealand.
He has been selling the fuel in Vava’u for TP$2.95 per lire for petrol and TP$2.90 for diesel.
The decision to import the fuel was risky because the tanker might have arrived at the same time and he might not have been able to sell it.
“I did it to help the people of Vava’u,” he said.
“My personal view is that Pacific Energy knew about this three months ago and should have ordered fuel to be delivered to Vava’u using the same method I have done.
“To let the people of Vava’u suffer and make them go through this fuel crisis without feeling responsible is not acceptable and the government should be questioning them to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
On September 19 Kaniva News reported Vava’u Tourism Association president Calvin Schumaker’s warning that the region faced economic losses of more than TP$10 million.
Schumaker blamed the fuel shortage on the loss of the fuel barge that used to bring in fuel from Nuku’alofa. He said the barge had been sold and not replaced.
The main points
- A tanker carrying about 570,000 litres of fuel was expected to arrive in Vava’u today.
- Radio New Zealand quoted Pacific Energy manager Paula Tupou as saying the vessel was in Nuku’alofa and would be in Neiafu today.
- Tupou said the fuel shipment consisted of 230,000 litres of petrol and 340,000 of diesel.
- The news comes days after Vava’u businessman Tomifa Paea claimed the tanker bringing fuel to the petrol starved outer island could be delayed until October 8.
For more information
Tonga to get fuel supply up and running again (RNZI)
Crisis in Vava’u as fuel runs out; six weeks before new fuel ship arrives says Ministry
