A TRADER is being investigated on suspicion of fuel hoarding during a nationwide monitoring and surveillance of fuel service stations.
The trader was identified during the survey conducted by a team from the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC).
“We are currently investigating a trader suspected of hoarding and have also noted localised issues, including supply constraints, logistical challenges, delivery delays and distribution limitations within each division,” FCCC chief executive officer Senikavika Jiuta said.
She said their monitoring activities included checking for irregular market behaviour and ensuring traders complied with regulatory requirements, and also reviewing the distribution patterns and supply chain movements — such as the frequency of fuel deliveries and replenishment schedules.
Ms Jiuta said their teams carried out 478 surveys around the country.
“Our teams are on the ground assessing market conditions and supply availability across all major divisions, along with fuel and LPG stock levels from retailers, distributors and service stations.”
Based on the FCCC teams’ monitoring activities, Ms Jiuta said key observations from the field indicated an influx of panic buying and stockpiling by consumers, and also a temporary artificial shortage of unleaded fuel.
However, she said those shortages were temporary as stocks were subsequently replenished by the suppliers.
Ms Jiuta said their enforcement team also noted delays in fuel deliveries.
“To ensure that these delays were not linked to any attempt to hoard fuel, the officers verified that the fuel stations in question had placed orders on time, with the delay occurring at the supplier’s end.
“Our fuel and LPG monitoring has confirmed that overall, there is a stable supply of fuel, with adequate stock available.
“Traders in the areas surveyed said they had sufficient supply and there were no widespread shortages. “Any shortages experienced have primarily been due to technical issues, supplier delays and
artifi cial shortages resulting from panic buying.”
Earlier this month, the FCCC had advised the public to continue with responsible fuel usage, and also warned traders to refrain from hoarding, which involved deliberately withholding stock from the market to drive prices up or to sell at inflated prices once scarcity had set in.
Ms Jiuta had warned traders they would be dealt with severely if they were detected, saying they had the tools, the mandate and the enforcement reach to act.
