Overview 

There are two major companies marketing and supplying fuel in Tonga, Total Energies and Pacific Energy SWP Limited (PE SWP). Total Energies is a major multinational. Fiji-based Pacific Energy has operated for over 65 years and maintains strong links with Shell through a supply agreement and technical assistance. Since early 2009 a local Tongan company (Vatu) has been supplying the Ha’apai group of islands direct from Fiji using their own LCT (Local Coastal Tankers). The Niuas are supplied with drums from Tongatapu. 

Total Energies and Pacific Energy have terminal facilities 0.5 n.m. east of Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku’alofa. Currently, tankers discharge just outside the reef directly offshore from the terminals using a Mediterranean mooring system which can accommodate local coastal tankers, typically LOA 80m., max draft 5.0m., 3.000gt. Cargo transfer is by flexible hose between a permanent manifold by one of the dolphins and vessels manifold. Handles products at a rate of 200 m3 / hr. The port handles approx. 40-50 million litres of petroleum products per year. Total Energies’ storage capacity is 1,155,670 litres. Pacific Energy has storage capacity for 464,310 litres. 

The companies use a similar supply route. Tonga’s volume is included in regional demand, combining with volume for Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and other Pacific Islands (as applicable for each company). This allows the supply to be bulked up into suitable cargo sized volumes (30,000 tonnes/40 million litres) that can be supplied from the Singapore market, the main trading and export refining centre in the Asia-Pacific region. The larger ships (Medium Range Tankers) are not currently able to call in Tonga, so Tonga’s volume is included in Fiji’s supply and delivered to Fiji’s Vuda terminal. From Vuda it is loaded onto much smaller vessels (Local Coastal Tankers - LCT) for shipping to Tonga. Whilst supply of fuel has generally been consistent, there was a disruption to Vava’u supply for several weeks during 2016 due to delays experienced by Pacific Energy in its replacement of the normal LCT with a bigger vessel. 

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: https://www.mted.gov.to/index.php/2024/02/16/new-petroleum-prices-for-f… which is updated monthly.  

Fuel Pricing 

The cost of petroleum fuel in Tonga is made up of four main components.  

- cost of the fuel on the international market (44%)  

- cost of the supply route to get it to Tonga (  9%) 

- supplying companies operating costs and recovery on their investment  ( 9%) 

- taxes and levies applied by Authorities and the Government of Tonga.       (38%) 

The largest single consumer of petroleum fuel is Tonga Power which uses diesel for electricity generation. Total Energy is currently contracted to meet this demand. As a result, diesel is the most significant product supplied to the market. Jet fuel/kerosene is only supplied to Tongatapu.  

Seasonal Variations  

There are no seasonal variations. Price is Government controlled. 

Fuel Transportation 

Internal transportation of fuel products is carried out by trucks. 

Total Energies: 

• 2 tankers on Tongatapu with total carrying capacity of 45,000 L; and 

• 1 tanker (carrying capacity of 14,000 L) on each of Ha’apai and Vava’u islands. 

Pacific Energy: 

• 5 tankers on Tongatapu with total capacity of 100,000 L; and 

• 1 tanker (carrying capacity of 14,000 L) on each of Ha’apai and Vava’u islands. 

Tonga Power’s LCT vessel is used to transport bulk fuel for its own use from Tongatapu to Ha’apai and Vava’u. Other fuel to the outer islands is transported by drum or IBC (1,500 L). 

The transportation infrastructure and fleet are sufficient to handle current domestic needs as well as increased demand from the humanitarian community. 

Standards, Quality and Testing 

Both fuel suppliers to Tonga adhere to international standards of fuel quality as required by the Fiji Government, which is the transhipment point for each of them. They have onsite laboratories in Tonga at their storage depots and strict quality control is enforced. 

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. 

Road Transport 

Due to the small size of its islands, land transport is not really developed in Tonga. Trucks are small and family owned. On Tongatapu islands, two private land transport companies can be found at the port. During an emergency, government agencies transport capacities, mainly from Transport and Works departments as well as the ones from Tonga Defence Services, Police and Fire Service will be used. This amounts to a total of approximately 60 x 4-ton trucks. 

On the islands of Ha’apai, Vava’u and outer islands, transport is done by locals with private vehicles and tractors with trailers. 

Current capacity is adequate for the local demand and would likely be able accommodate surge in case of additional humanitarian requirements. 

For more information on transport company contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Transporter Contact List  

Tranzpacific Ltd Transport Capacity Summary 

Molapu Quarry Transport Capacity Summary 

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. 

Overview

There are no formalised trade unions in Tonga, although the 1964 Act of Parliament provides the legislation needed for unions to be formed (2009). Employers and employees in the private sector negotiate directly to establish working conditions and discuss salaries. 

Manual labour is employed predominately in the agricultural and fishing industries. 

In times of need (due to natural disasters), the military provides the bulk of manual labourers. This is readily supplemented by volunteer labour from the villages. 

Historically, humanitarian agencies have not experienced any problems with securing adequate manual labour and do not anticipate it being an issue in future. 

Labour Rate(s) Overview 

Overview

Mobile phone and internet services are available throughout the country, including smaller and more remote communities.  

Connectivity from the main island of Tongatapu to outer islands via microwave connectivity is improving the data speeds accessible on the outer islands, by reducing the dependency on satellite-based internet connectivity. Tongatapu was connected to a submarine cable in 2013. Tonga Cable Limited (TCL) is a public enterprise and its three shareholders are the Tonga Government 66.6%, Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) 16.7%, and Digicel Tonga Limited 16.7%. TCL was formed in November 2009 with the approval of the Government of Tonga to build and manage a submarine fibre optic connecting Tonga to Fiji, which was commissioned in August 2013.  

The cable is 827 kilometres long and has its cable landing station at Sopu, a suburb of Nukuʻalofa in Tonga, and in Suva, Fiji. It provides 20 Gbps through its branching into the trans-Pacific Southern Cross Cable in Suva. An extension of the cable to Haʻapai and Vavaʻu was commissioned in April 2018. The segment of the cable was shattered and destroyed in multiple places during the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption in January 2022, new cable was manufactured and the two recoverable ends of the cable were re-joined with the new segment and service was restored slightly over a month after the eruption.   

AM radio remains one of the most important communication channels in Tonga to reach communities for early warning and disaster recovery messages. AM radio plays an important role in sending messages to outer island communities including information about scheduled arrivals of shipping and airline services and has a vital role in broadcasting regular weather reports and cyclone and tsunami warnings. It is a vital lifeline during times of natural disasters. The Government of Tonga is working with the JICA (Government of Japan) to increase the resilience of the AM radio network in the country. 

There are three telecommunications network operators in Tonga, namely, Digicel , TCC and WanTok. Digicel Tonga (formerly TonFon) is a privately owned company and Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) is a state-owned public enterprise. TCC has a strategic partnership alliance with Vodafone Fiji.  

In 2016, Digicel deployed what was, at the time, the world’s longest microwave relay (189 kilometres) stationed on Kao Island, an uninhabited volcanic island in the Ha’apai group. It connects the islands of Tongatapu, Eua, Ha’apai, and Vava’u. The link supplied data connectivity with a capacity of 200Mbps to Ha’apai and 600Mbps to Vava’u. The site was running on an autonomous power supply (solar, batteries, diesel generators) until it stopped working after the HT-HH eruption in January 2022. In late 2022, Digicel repaired and upgraded the link. (https://www.etcluster.org/document/tonga-volcanic-eruptiontsunami-global-etc-teleconference-17-26-october-2022 )  

WanTok is the most recent inclusion into the market, launched in 2021 with Headquarters in Port Vila, Vanuatu. WanTok provides mobile services, banking solutions, wireless broadband and cloud hosting services. They also provide internet broadband services via its radio links to customers and businesses with coverage of 70 to 80% on Tongatapu only.  

There are no restrictions on obtaining SIM cards for mobile telephone connectivity. Photo identification must be supplied when purchasing a SIM card. Data plans are readily available. 

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List 

Telecommunications Regulations 

The Department of Communications, under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), is the party responsible for licensing relating to frequencies, and importation of telecommunications equipment. The Kingdom of Tonga is a party to Tampere Convention via accession. The Tampere Convention provides concessions relating to the importation of telecommunications equipment during disaster times. 

Regulations on Usage and Import 

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems 

Various telecommunications systems are in place in Tonga, including a VHF and HF radio network that is used by the NDRMO and Meteorological services. A discussion is underway to implement a common emergency channel shared between first response agencies (proposal is to reuse the existing frequencies already used by the NDRMO). In the event of disaster, it is recommended that the humanitarian community configure the existing radio channels used by the NEMO (with approval from the NDRMO and Met Services). The Tonga Red Cross have satellite phones at various locations. 

Existing Telecommunication Systems 

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

Internet is available on all islands, and organisations can contract directly with private ISPs for their internet service. Major ISPs are DigiNET (Digicel) and Kalianet (TCC). Internet over mobile broadband is also available subject to the network coverage of the mobile network operators (Digicel and TCC). 

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 

There are three mobile network operators – TCC (U-Call), Digicel Tonga and WanTok. The mobile network operators offer GSM and 3G services, including mobile broadband. The Digicel network has coverage across Tonga except to the northern group of islands, called Nuias. The UCall (TCC) network covers all of Tonga including the northern group of islands such as Niuafo‘ou, Niuatoputapu, Nomuka and Ha‘afeva. For other information on MNOs visit the GSM Association website.  

Most of the population engages in some form of subsistence production of food, with approximately half producing almost all their basic food needs through farming, sea harvesting, and animal husbandry. Farmers join in cooperatives to supply bulk produce for the export market. Tonga’s exports in 2014 totalled $17.3 million. Non-Fillet Fish represented 19.4% followed by Other Vegetables at 10%. Agricultural exports account for around 66% of the country's total exports.  

There is no major manufacturing or production capacity. 

Of Tonga’s total imports in 2014, Poultry accounted for 5% ($12 mil) and Other Foodstuffs accounted for 11% ($30 mil). Of ‘Other Foodstuffs pasta (13%) and other prepared meat (12%). 

In general, local produce can feed the local demand at a basic level. Most households have gardens and access to livestock or fish that will sustain them even in the aftermath of natural disasters. It should be noted that although Tonga imports large quantities of food, this is for variety not survival. 

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following sources: 

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC): https://oec.world/en/profile/country/ton  

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. 

Overview

Generally most services that may be required for an agency’s immediate program support needs are available. Up to date technology and training has been imported from Australia and New Zealand.

For more information on company contact details, please see the following link: 4.2.8 Tonga Additional Service Provision Contact List.

Accommodation

Due to Tonga’s popularity as a tourist destination there is a reasonable amount of accommodation options (over 50) ranging from high-end hotel to backpacker and lodges. Longer-term rental house are in shorter supply although there are currently a number of entrepreneurial developers building specifically for this market.

Electricity and Power

Tonga has around 85% of the population on-grid and high levels of supply reliability. Voltage is 220-240V. Plugs are 2 V-shaped flat prongs. Cost of electricity is high largely as a result of Tonga’s reliance on diesel-powered generation for on-grid services.

Service is generally reliable and uninterrupted.  Short localised outages may be experienced as a result of damaged lines after severe storms

Tonga Power Limited (TPL), the national utility, generates and distributes electricity on all four grids (Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha‘apai, and Vava‘u), and are currently powered by diesel generators fuelled with automotive diesel oil (ADO).

In 2000, when the last energy balance table was compiled, imported petroleum products accounted for 75% of Tonga's energy supply, with 25% from biomass (i.e. fuel wood and wood waste, coconut and palm oil residues) and off-grid solar PV.

The Energy sector has been identified as one of the infrastructure sectors at greatest risk from the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

Financial Services

Australian and New Zealand bank (ANZ) and Bank Of the South Pacific (BSB) are present in Tonga. There are a number of ATM machines where most major international banks can be accessed, on the 3 main islands. All normal banking facilities are present.

ANZ Bank

ANZ Tonga is a full service retail and commercial bank that offers comprehensive products and services for individuals as well as businesses.

Publicly listed company

For contact details, please see: 4.11 Tonga Additional Service Provision Contact List

Bank of the South Pacific (BSP)

Offers Premium Banking Services Centres in all major towns in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Solomon Islands. Publicly listed company.

Clearing and Forwarding Agents

There are numerous customs clearing and freight forwarding agents in the capital operating to international standards.

Handling Equipment

There are many forklifts and other items of handling equipment operating in the port region ranging from 2 - 30 mt capacity. Individuals or small operators generally own these. They will be made available in case of emergency under government edict if necessary, however historically such items are readily volunteered in emergency situations.

NEMO is currently taking delivery of 2 new forklifts and sundry other handling equipment for immediate disaster relief work.

Postal and Courier Services

Tonga Post is Government owned and provides mail and courier services to all the islands. International courier services FedEx and DHL are also present offering international services.

Printing and Publishing 

There are printing and copying services available to international standards in the capital Nuku’alofa.

Taxi Companies

Taxi services are available in major towns. They are unmetered but generally reliable and safe to travel in. You should ensure driver actually knows location of required destination before embarking.

Vehicle Rental

There are international and local rental companies available. There is reasonable supply, standard and variety of vehicle options. A company should be able to satisfy its immediate vehicle requirements on arrival in Tonga.

Waste Management and Disposal Services

Waste Authority Limited (WAL) controls solid waste collection and disposal. This includes responsibility for the disposal of sewage sludge at the Tapuhia landfill facility on Tongatapu. WAL provides waste collection services covering all of Tongatapu, but on other islands, formal arrangements for solid waste collection are not in place. Likewise, formal arrangements for sanitary disposal of solid waste are not in place on other islands, except for Vava’u. WAL is progressively improving its performance but continues to require financial support from Government as it has a growing maintenance backlog. In addition there are problems with the design of WAL’s existing equipment and facilities, and the illegal dumping of waste is an emerging issue.

On other outer islands, formal arrangements for solid waste disposal do not exist.

There is a basic recycling program in place focussed on aluminium cans.

WASTE DISPOSAL-NON-HAZARDOUS

See above

WASTE DISPOSAL-HAZARDOUS

Oil and fuel waste has been collected and used by Tonga Power Limited to generate electricity

Quantities of waste including electronics, oil and fuels are still disposed of in an unregulated manner to unmonitored landfills.

Black and grey water is carried to WAL’s treatment facility were it is filtered and chemically treated to ‘neutralize’ pathogens and then run to ground. Solid waste goes to landfill.

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.