Cook Islands
3.1 Cook Islands Fuel Suppliers
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All fuel is imported from Australia, NZ, Korea, Singapore or elsewhere depending on the best market price that can be obtained by the private sector importers, TOA, Pacific Energy and Triad Petroleum. All 3 have their own fuel farms. Supply is regular; tanker vessels arrive usually every 20 days. There are no set reserve stocks maintained as companies look to control cash flow and reserve stock may get as low as 2 days before resupply.

TOA PETROLEUM has a total fuel storage capacity of approximately 1.4 million litres (10 tanks) plus portable ISO tanks but does not fully utilise this capacity. It restocks monthly to 200,000 L petrol and 100,000 L of diesel per month. It has a fleet of tanker trucks and trailers for distribution (1 x 4,000, 1 x 9,000, 1 x 16,000, 2 x 20,000) used to deliver to retail outlets.

 

PACIFIC ISLANDS ENERGY PTE Ltd supplies Jet A-1 to domestic and International airlines. It has storage capacity of 2.6 mil litres of Jet A-1 plus portable ISO tanks. It uses a 20,000L tanker truck for delivery to domestic airlines; fuel for International refuelling is pumped direct from its storage facility by underground pipe to the tarmac.

Pacific Energy also supplies 700,000 L of diesel/month to TAU for electricity generation.

TRIAD PACIFIC PETROLEUM has storage capacity of 1.4 mil litres (stocking 400,000L of diesel, 300,000L of petrol) plus portable ISO tanks and distributes it to private retail outlets using 1x 4,000L and 2 x 20,000L tanker trucks

There are 28 retail fuel outlets on Rarotonga and a further 11 on the Outer Islands. 

While there is strict quality control at source (originating refineries) only Jet A-1 is further tested to international specifications after transit shipping to the Cook Islands. While there have been no issues with fuel quality in the country for some time, there are plans to tighten this aspect of supply in future.

It should be noted that all 3 companies’ fuel farms are situated in a coastal location that is considered risk vulnerable to cyclone or tsunami damage.

For more information on government and fuel provider contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.7 Fuel Providers Contact List 

Information may also be found at: http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/ which is updated monthly. 

Fuel Pricing

A national body, The Price Tribunal, sets fuel prices. This committee is made up of people from the Government and Private Sector. It convenes 2 monthly to set the wholesale and retail fuel prices for the Cook Islands based on the current purchase market after factoring in the costs of transportation and a margin for the importers. Prices are also set for the outer islands, paying regard to the additional shipping costs faced by the distributors and the retail price can be up to 125% higher in the distant Northern Group of islands relative to Rarotonga as a result  (see Annex 5.4 Fuel Price Tribunal).

 

Fuel Prices per Litre as of: 16/07/2018

(local currency and USD - $)

Petrol

NZ$2.28 – USD$1.51

Diesel

NZ$2.26 – USD$1.49

Paraffin

N/a

Jet A-1

NZ$2.28 - USD$1.1512 

Seasonal Variations 

There are no season variations to price or availability.

Seasonal Variations

Are there national priorities in the availability of fuel? (i.e. are there restrictions or priorities for the provision of fuel such as to the military?)

No

Is there a rationing system?

No

Is fuel to lower income / vulnerable groups subsidized?

No

Can the local industry expand fuel supply to meet humanitarian needs?

 Yes, however there is a 16 – 20 day resupply period that must be factored in.

Is it possible for a humanitarian organization to directly contract a reputable supplier / distributor to provide its fuel needs?

Yes

Fuel Transportation

Fuel is pumped underground from the wharf direct to the fuel farms. The 3 fuel import companies have tanker trucks for further distribution.  ISO tanks are used for transportation to the outer islands.

Standards, Quality and Testing

INTAFF carries out monthly audits and checks of local retail and distribution activity to ensure standards however this is not a technical standards test.

 

Industry Control Measures

Do tanks have adequate protection against water mixing with the fuel?

Yes

Are there filters in the system which monitor where fuel is loaded into aircraft?

Yes

Is there adequate epoxy coating of tanks on trucks?

Not required. Aluminium tanks.

Is there a presence of suitable firefighting equipment?

TOA has 80% adequacy.

Pacific Energy and Triad reliant on local Fire Services

Standards Authority

Is there a national or regional standards authority?

No

If yes, please identify the appropriate national and/or regional authority.

N/a

 

If yes, are the standards adequate/properly enforced?

Not for all standards

Testing Laboratories

Are there national testing laboratories?

  No.

TOA has a laboratory for testing Quality Compliance to minimum standards only

 

 

Fuel Quality Testing Laboratory

Company

Independent Petroleum Laboratory (IPL)

Name 

IPL Ltd.

Address

39 Molesworth Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki New Zealand.  

Telephone and Fax

+64 6 758 4262

Contact

laboratory@ipl.co.nz

Standards Used

DEF-STAN 091-91)

 

 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

 


 

 

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