KPHL takes over fuel shipment

A SHIPMENT of diesel and Jet A1 fuel was discharged at Napa Napa recently, as the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) starts a downstream fuel business to address the current fuel shortage, says managing director Wapu Sonk.
Sonk said in a statement that the national government under the Essential Services Act and through a National Executive Council decision, mandated KPHL to find a commercial solution to manage the energy crisis.
“KPHL took a shipment of fuel brought in by ExxonMobil, purchased in US dollars, and sold it to Puma Energy in Kina, for them to supply the country through its infrastructure and network,” he said.
He said the STI Seneca tanker berthed at the Napa Napa dock on Tuesday to discharge 230,000 barrels of diesel and 37,000 bbls of Jet A1 fuel into the Puma tank.
He encouraged fuel retailers and distributors to contact Puma for fuel distribution to customers.
“This is an historic import of petroleum products by Kumul Petroleum, the first time that the national oil company has participated in downstream business in its 14-year history,” Sonk said.
KPHL plans to import more fuel in the same manner and assures the country that with KPHL, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and other fuel importers, the fuel shortage crisis should now ease off and return to normal soon.
“We are grateful that the Government has given Kumul Petroleum the mandate to initiate this activity,” he added.
“While we deal with the immediate supply issue, KPHL has also started working on building import infrastructure, especially for Jet A1 fuel, to be followed by diesel and petrol, to complement what is already available in PNG, especially in Port Moresby,” he said.
“KPHL intends to build infrastructure in Lae and other strategic locations around the country as a long term solution.”