THE Fiji Labour Party (FLP) says the scare caused by a fuel leak at the PetroOceania terminal in Walu Bay earlier this week should not be taken lightly.
Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said the fuel terminal remained a serious safety hazard.
“Monday’s incident, which led to the total shutdown of the Walu Bay area, should serve as a warning,” Mr Chaudhry said.
He said the terminal must be relocated, describing its current location as an imminent danger to a large part of Suva.
“The facilities are old. It is located in the heart of industrial Walu Bay, close to two petrol stations — Mobil and Total and the city’s fire station.”
He said a major explosion, either at the terminal itself or at one of the nearby industrial facilities, could impact bordering residential areas of Tamavua and Lami, as well as the business and commercial centres of Lami and Walu Bay.
Mr Chaudhry said the consequences of such an incident would be devastating.
“The terminal needs to be relocated. It is the only preventative measure to avoid a major catastrophe in the future.”
He said relocation of the fuel terminal was seriously considered years ago when the Walu Bay industrial area was still in its infancy, but no action was taken.
He acknowledged that quick action by PetroOceania and regulatory authorities helped contain the latest incident, with no noticeable impact on marine life.
“But there is no guarantee that accidents won’t occur in the future, despite precautionary measures now imposed on the fuel company.”
Mr Chaudhry also warned that the risk of sabotage could not be ruled out.
“We recall an incident in July 2023 when someone tried to blow up a fuel terminal in Walu Bay.
“A catastrophe was avoided only by the alertness of a security guard.
“Such terminals are safety hazards and should not be located in industrial, commercial areas or close to densely populated areas.”
