Black market prices for zoom in Morobe double

By MAZIE SELMBIA
THE prices of zoom (petrol) in black markets in Morobe have increased, according to boat operators.
Lawai Yapi, a boat operator from Buansing village in Salamaua, Huon Gulf district said the black market prices for fuel had doubled since last week.
“We used to buy 30 litres of fuel here in Lae for K125 to go to the village,” Yapi said.
He said fuel resellers at the village had been charging them K50 to K55 for a five-litre container of fuel.
“Since last week, and during the Easter long weekend, we were paying K170 for 25 litres.”
Yapi said boat operators could not make any profit from the current pricing which was placing many of them under pressure.
He added that the rising price of fuel was an added burden on operators who also had to contend with other costs of running boats.
“We are not making any money as there is a lot of costs (associated) in running a boat because we need to buy oil for the gear or for the engine,” Yapi said.
He hopes that this week, with petrol and Zoom back in stock at service stations, the fuel prices in black markets might return to normal.
Boat operators from Finschhafen also confirmed that a five-litre container of mixed petrol was being sold for K200.
The rising cost of fuel will be passed on to customers with the cost of trips ferrying passengers and cargo to rise accordingly.
Since last week Mobil and Islands Petroleum service stations had been out of petrol affecting boats servicing the Morobe coastline as well as into neighbouring provinces like Oro (Northern) and Madang.