No fuel price hike — PM Rabuka 

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured Fijians there will be no fuel price increase and no need to rush to petrol stations. 

This comes as concerns over the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict continue to drive long queues and dry gas pumps across the country. 

Speaking to the media after Cabinet met yesterday, Mr Rabuka was direct. 

“There should be no price hike. There is no need for any price hike because there is no need to panic yet,” he told this masthead. 

“There is no need for panic buying. We have our normal stock for three months in-country, already landed.” 

The Prime Minister said Government was assured of current supply levels and when the next shipment would arrive. 

He added that Cabinet had also received a presentation from the fuel industry and that a staged contingency plan was in place should the conflict — which has disrupted global oil shipping routes — worsen. 

The situation stems from the US-Israel military conflict with Iran, which has affected the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway through which about 20 per cent of the world's oil passes. 

The disruption has caused global oil prices to rise and triggered concern in Fiji, which imports its fuel from Singapore and gas from Australia.  

Minister for Finance Esrom Emmanuel earlier said any price increase at the pump was not expected before May, given the country's two-month price lag on new fuel orders. 

Mr Emmanuel, however, said some suppliers may be hoarding fuel in anticipation of higher prices — something Government has said is not permitted.  

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has been tasked to investigate why some stations ran dry.