Ready to fuel up Goroka
By ZACHERY PER
KINSLEY Maino’s was puzzled one day in 2009 at Gerehu Rainbow Service Station in Port Moresby when he saw motorists queuing up for fuel.
He knew those in the queue were pressed for time but wondered if there was an easier or quicker way to fill up.
It still didn’t dawn on him that he would one day pursue a solution to avoid the queues and that’s what he did – start Mobile Refuelling Service to take the fuel to the people.
There were many who wanted to avoid the queue-up hassle and they included public servants, company employees, PMV bus operators, parents dropping off children at schools and others.
Young Maino, having completed his auto mechanic training at Don Bosco Technical Training Institute at Barawagi in the Kerowagi district of Chimbu in 2002, pursued Mobile Refuelling Service.
He approached construction company owners and even employers who used thousands of litres of fuel (both diesel and petrol) each day and asked them how they got fuel to do their work.
“Pretentiously sometimes I ask construction workers whether they have any fuel to sell, some would tell me they have some litres and wanted K20 or K50 for lunch,” he said.
He said construction company workers on many occasion would tell him that they did not get enough fuel for their money.
Maino confirmed that employees did steal fuel and sold them without the knowledge of company owners.
“ I built and mounted a 600-litre fuel tank at the back of my open back mini-van and connected an electric pump, all done under very close supervision and recommendations of safety inspectors at Puma Energy in Lae and Goroka.”
“It is also costly for companies to transport fuel to their work site, they would require a service provider to deliver fuel directly to their location to avoid stealing and save time,” he said.
Maino was fortunate to learn more issues with fuel supply and distribution, having had a short stint with Digicel PNG transporting fuel and servicing generators at tower sites.
He went into doing his private automotive and electrical repair service in Goroka and eventually ventured into building the Mobile Refuelling Service that was launched last week.
“We are now available 24/7 ready to cart fuel to customer locations anywhere within Goroka town for a start but would be extended and expanded to other centres soon,” he said.
“I built and mounted a 600-litre fuel tank at the back of my open back mini-van and connected an electric pump, all done under very close supervision and recommendations of safety inspectors at Puma Energy in Lae and Goroka.”
Maino said Mobile Refuelling Service had fuel, pumps, tools and safety gear like fire extinguishers, gloves and foam in the service vehicle besides a compressor to pump air at no cost to customers in the event their vehicle tyres ran low on air.
“We will slowly move into petrol, oil and basic lubricants for customers. Goroka is the first town in PNG to enjoy our service, we will eventually move to other centres,” he said.
Maino said the service was very convenient for schools, disciplined forces and hospitals, and ambulance services.
The fuel prices are similar to those at service stations, there’s a gauge is on the hand pump to indicate amount.
The Mainos originally from Manus Island but now regarded as Gorokas as their four children were born and raised there.
Their father Dr Gregory Maino settled in Goroka as a dentist at the Goroka Provincial Hospital. He is now with the Health Department in Port Moresby with his wife Lucy.