The Commissioner of Police, David Manning, has issued a direction to the Bank of Papua New Guinea to immediately facilitate foreign currency exchange to Puma Energy for the purchases of crude oil and refined petroleum products.
Mr Manning issued the direction under the Commissioner’s function as the Controller, under the National Pandemic Act that is still in force as the PNG economy continues the long recovery from this period.
“The economic damage caused by the global pandemic still lingers and in my capacity I will not let this disagreement between BPNG and Puma set back our recovery.
“These are big organisations who should both have systems in place to prevent their disputes escalating to the point of costing livelihoods and lives.
“When fuel supplies are reduced or cut, medicines cannot be transported, ambulance operations are hindered, businesses have to send workers home and food does not get to market,” Mr Manning said.
The Commissioner said energy security is central to economic stability and public safety, so the government has taken action to overcome an unacceptable situation created between high level executives of the two organisations involved.
Mr Manning said, “In consultation with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Security, I have issued this direction to BPNG and their compliance is mandated by law, while Puma must now do the right thing and end rationing.
“Puma must immediately put an end to fuel rationing, restore fuel supplies from current stocks that are in the country and make urgent delivery of additional supplies.
“With their global reach, Puma can have urgent resupply so there can be no excuses on their part for not immediately ending the rationing.
“As Police Commissioner and Controller, I have a responsibility, on behalf of the government and our people, to intervene so as to prevent harm being pushed upon our people because two major organisations are unable to resolve their differences.”
Mr Manning said it is imperative that BPNG and Puma put in place processes so that the current fuel rationing situation cannot happen again.
“This is not the first time our people have been held to ransom over this foreign exchange matter between BPNG and Puma, but it has to be the last time,” Mr Manning concluded.
