THE fuel price increase is temporary and the National Government is taking steps to resolving the issue, a senior Government minister said.
Acting Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu met with stakeholders in the fuel industry to help resolved the fuel increase issue.
Details of the meeting were not immediately available but sources said Dr Temu raised the concerns during the meeting, and for the stakeholders to help address the current fuel price hike.
Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma told The National from Mt Hagen that he had talked with Interoil and signed a statement to the effect that the fuel price increase was temporary.
Mr Duma said he would release a detailed statement on the Government’s position and discussion with stakeholders today.
Meanwhile, Enga Governor Peter Ipatas has joined the call for the National Government to subsidise rising fuel prices.
“So much surplus has been made from the oil and gas resources and if we rightly negotiate it, our fuel prices would be low.”
Mr Ipatas said the fuel price rise was causing a lot of injustice to the people because ordinary people would be hard hit.
He blamed the current situation on the 30-year monopoly given to Interoil, adding “right now we are stuck”.
“Why should we produce oil and yet buy fuel at very high prices?” Mr Ipatas questioned.