HE started his career assembling gas stoves as a seven-year-old. Today, 60 years later, Harvey Probert, the chairman of Fiji Gas oversees the operation of Fiji Gas, helping customers making life easier in the kitchen, warming them in the showers or providing heat in homes.
Mr Probert vowed to do the same, only this times, taking their services to a greater height. Last week, the company celebrated 60 years of its establishment since 1956, when it started trading as Ready Gas (Fiji) Ltd in Lautoka.
He said the idea came from some engineers at CSR who persuaded his father and grandfather to invest in the business.
He said the early years were a struggle with gas being imported in cylinders, before it was imported in small tanks.
“The first year of operation resulted in sales of approximately 1 tonne tanks of gas as the market had to be developed for this new product,” Mr Probert said.
“Life was a struggle with a constant need to raise new funds to grow the business. The small staff in Lautoka were trained on the job and were led by Goona Dean. Electrical power supply was very restricted and the main energy sources were wood and kerosene for cooking so gas was a major step forward,” he added.
In 1958 the company relocated to Suva.
A small shop was rented in Cumming St. Mr Probert said business grew and the struggle was tough.
“If a shipment was delayed it meant decanting gas from full cylinders and supplying partly filled cylinders to keep people going until the next shipment arrived,” he explained.
“Initially supply by small tanks was from Indonesia but this supply stopped abruptly. The desperate search for gas supply led his company to contact a company in California.
By the early 60s it was apparent that the company needed a bulk supply and talks were commenced with the oil companies.
Eventually Mobil agreed to construct a bulk tank and arrange supply and 160 tonne spherical tank was constructed.
This tank was commissioned in 1964 and an exclusive 10 — year distribution agreement was signed with Mobil. Mobil also bought the rights to the name Ready Gas. This meant a new name for the business and Fiji Gas was born.
Mr Probert said with a secure source and some cash from the sale of assets the company started to grow moving to central buildings in Suva then to their own single storey building in Walu Bay in 1967.
While the company was growing cash was still an issue and it wasn’t until 1968 that the long suffering shareholders received a dividend.
In 1970 as Fiji gained independence Boral through their subsidiary The Gas Supply Company started looking at expansion into the Pacific Islands. Initial discussions were held which resulted in Boral purchasing a 50per cent shareholding in Fiji Gas on a joint venture basis in August 1972.
This took the paid up share capital in Fiji Gas to $350,000. In November 1972 the entire Boral board had a board meeting at the Fijian Hotel to see first hand what they had bought. At this meeting and a subsequent Fiji Gas board meeting the decision was made to proceed with the construction of a two 330 tonne terminals in Lautoka and Suva. This action was taken as Mobil had indicated that they were not going to renew our 10 year contract as Boral had bought into the business.
Lautoka terminal was commissioned in November 1973 and the Lami terminal opened in April 1974.
A period of intense competition with Mobil and their new distributor until Mobil withdrew from the market in the mid 80’s.
The two terminals capacity was increased in 1987 and 2007 and a terminal was built in Labasa in 1981. Mr Probert said their relationship with Boral and subsequently Origin had been a strong one to our mutual benefit.
Looking back the company has achieved so many and they have a well-trained and dedicated staff and together they have a strong identity as a family.
Fiji Gas have an excellent safety record and a history of working together with its customers to produce win-win outcomes.
