Air Niugini in Papua New Guinea has navigated the latest difficulty with ongoing fuel supply disruptions, prompting the airline to purchase bulk jet fuel stock to support its scheduled services due to low fuel supply affecting flight operations.
The airline successfully had the jet fuel delivered to Port Moresby storage facilities to ensure continuity of scheduled services from the capital city, but there is currently no regional-centre jet fuel delivery solution in place.
Fuel supply issues in Papua New Guinea stem from a hard currency shortage and foreign exchange restrictions, hindering the fuel supplier, Puma Energy, from stabilising supply and creating nationwide shortages.
The court order that previously compelled Puma Energy to maintain “maximum supply” to Air Niugini led to an earlier than expected depletion of existing supply, highlighting ongoing contractual disputes, supply, and payment issues between the parties, and emphasising the need for a permanent aviation fuel supply contract for Air Niugini.
