Kumul Petroleum (KPHL) has facilitated a key fuel drop in a bid to meet PNG’s needs amid an ongoing shortage.
The company discharged a shipment of 230,000 barrels (bbls) of diesel and 37,000 bbls of Jet A1 fuel at Puma Energy’s Napa Napa oil refinery.
The shipment was brought in by ExxonMobil and deposited in Puma fuel tanks to be supplied around the country through its infrastructure network.
All fuel retailers and distributors have been encouraged to engage with Puma for distribution to customers.
The PNG Government called on KPHL to secure the fuel under the Essential Services Act.
“We are grateful that the PNG Government has given Kumul Petroleum the mandate to initiate this activity,” Kumul Petroleum managing director Wapu Sonk said.
“This is an historic import of petroleum products by Kumul Petroleum, the first time that the national oil company has participated in downstream business in its short 14-year history.”
KPHL said it plans to import more fuel and was confident that with KPHL, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and other fuel importers playing their part, the emerging fuel shortage would ease and the market would return to normal over time.
Sonk emphasised KPHL’s commitment to creating a long-term solution to the shortage with its investment in projects and infrastructure that will establish the company as a major player in the sector.
“Whilst we deal with the immediate supply issue, KPHL has also started working on building import infrastructure, especially for Jet A1, to be followed by diesel and petrol, to complement what is already available in the country, especially in Port Moresby,” Sonk said.
“KPHL intends to build infrastructure in Lae and other strategic locations around the country as a long-term solution.”
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