ENERGY company TotalEnergies (Fiji) Pte Ltd opened its renovated service station at Raiwaqa in Suva yesterday, at a cost of about $2 million.
The new-look service station with eight filling points – operated by locally-owned Supreme Fuel Ltd – will employ around 20 staff working in shifts – including a service station manager, pump attendants, lube and car wash attendants.
In an interview yesterday, TotalEnergies Fiji and Tonga managing director and chief executive officer Bhavna Samel said many of the service stations had been there for a long time and had weathered storms and other climate elements, and were in a condition where it required “some care and attention”.
“Overall, in the renovation, it’s about $2million we had to invest because not only did we redo the look and feel, but we also changed the tanks and pipelines. So it was quite a big investment,” Ms Samel told The Fiji Times.
She said the refurbishment project was designed by local company Design Engineering.
Ms Samel said the facility held more than enough fuel to fill more than 200 vehicles daily.
While she said they had refurbished the service station in Raiwaqa, Nausori, and Nadi, added there would be carrying out similar upgrades at other stations soon.
Supreme Fuel managing director Rajesh Patel said the reopening of the station in Raiwaqa represented hard work, resilience and belief in the future.
“Over the past months, a lot of efforts has gone into upgrading this station, from improved facilities and modern equipment to a renewed commitment to safety, service and reliability,” Mr Patel said.
“We are grateful for our long-standing business relationship with TotalEnergies, which spans over 20 years, dating back to when they acquired operations from Shell Fiji.
“This partnership has played an important role in our journey and continues to support our commitment to quality, reliability and service.”
INSET: TotalEnergies vice president Middle East and Asia Mehmet Celepoglu (middle) is joined by TotalEnergies Fiji and Tonga managing director and CEO Bhavna Samel (right) and Supreme Fuel Ltd managing director Rajesh Patel in cutting the ribbon to officially open the refurbished service station in Raiwaqa, Suva yesterday. Picture: TIMOCI VULA
