Tonga - 3.1 Fuel

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.