Puma’s business model resilient during pandemic: Exec

By DALE LUMA
THE Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic continues to impact the global and national economy but Puma Energy PNG Ltd’s business model has proved resilient, says country general manager and director Hulala Tokome.
Tokome told The National that this showed that the company made right decisions to continue investing in the future as well as finding new ways of working efficiently, reduce costs, operate leaner and smarter.
“We have been able to withstand major shocks such as the Covid-19 and continue to operate supporting our customers and the economy,” Tokome said.
“Our Pumagas business continues to grow nationwide using indigenous gas and we are increasing the number of partnerships with small-to-medium enterprises who manage the distribution and sales of the product.
“We now have more than 400.”
He said the company’s retail business was stable and, improving and they remained committed to expanding their network of service stations throughout the country.
Puma Energy currently has 93 service stations nationwide.
“We have a programme to modernise our key company-owned stations in the coming years which will include introducing a new store format across all the regions in which we operate,” he said.
“Last year we refurbished the Badili site and this year we upgraded the Hohola site which re-opened last month.
“We are currently working on a facelift for the Waigani (NCD) and Eriku sites (Lae) which will reopen in the coming weeks. Our commitment to applying the best global standards is demonstrated by our new flagship station at Gerehu which opened late last year offering a varied retail experience with supermarkets, shops and restaurants including the country’s first drive-through restaurant at a service station.”
Tokome said the aviation business continued to be a challenge globally and in PNG but the company continued to invest in improving its facilities in that sector.
“As part of our capital investment strategy, we have built new facilities in Hoskins and Tokua airports, purchased new refueling trucks which we are transitioning around the country as well.”