THE Fiji Labour Party has accused Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL) of using the global fuel crisis as an excuse to push for higher electricity charges – while threatening nationwide power rationing.
Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said EFL had no justification for the proposed outages after receiving Government fuel subsidies under the recent $56million relief package aimed at stabilising the country’s power supply.
“EFL should stop holding the country to ransom by threatening power rationing while seeking a 11c surcharge on tariffs using the current global fuel crisis as a pretext,” Mr Chaudhry said.
The subsidy package included a 20 cent per litre rebate on industrial diesel and 12 cents per litre on heavy fuel oil.
Mr Chaudhry said EFL was not facing financial difficulties, pointing out the company recorded a $7million profit last year despite repeatedly pushing for tariff increases.
“If the EFL board and management don’t have the skills and the ingenuity to handle complex situations, they must step down.”
He warned that power rationing would hurt businesses, reduce working hours and wages, and place further strain on the tourism industry and ordinary households.
Mr Chaudhry also claimed the 11 cent increase in electricity tariffs would worsen inflation and deepen the cost-of-living crisis.
According to the consumer council, the increase would add about $33 a month to the electricity bills of average-income families.
The Fiji Labour Party has called on Government to reject EFL’s proposed fuel surcharge.
