Station opens to cash customers

By LEMACH LAVARI
PUMA Energy has announced that its cashless fuel station at Koki in Port Moresby will now be accepting payments by cash and Eftpos, says operator Geelong Auma.
Auma said customers that previously needed a fuel card to buy fuel.
He said the practie was problematic when the station ran out of cards. “Now we are trying to make it easier for our customers to purchase fuel,” Auma said. The station only sells zoom and diesel.
Auma was given the operating licence for the fuel station in 2016.
Puma Energy general manager strategy and external affairs Hulala Tokome said Puma Energy is proud to support local business people like Auma.
He urged the local people in Koki to respect the facility because it provides a much-needed service for them.
“We have also had the opportunity to roll out our Puma Gas which has also encouraged more than 300 SMEs since last year,” Tokome said.
“This is using a different model where local people are able to sell gas and become business persons.”
Present at the event was National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop and Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko, who thanked Puma Energy for their K2 million investment in the fuel station and public toilet facilities at the Koki Fish Market.
“This is what completed the Koki Fish Market and made it possible for all of us,” Tkatchenko said.
He said Auma is a Moresby South local from the Wanigela settlement at Koki. He expressed his appreciation for Puma’s confidence in Auma to operate the station.
Tkatchenko said Auma’s success should be seen as a positive challenge.
“If you can put the time, commitment and initiative into whatever you do, you can be successful in life. Nothing comes free, you have to work hard and show your commitment and responsibility and then you will be recognised like Geelong Auma.”
He said this progress would fit very well with the Koki Gymnasium which is being constructed directly across the road from the Koki Fish Market.
“We are cleaning up this once no-go zone in our capital city”
Parkop said people must change their attitudes to make the best of opportunities provided by the government and private businesses.
He said NCDC had put K2 million in National Development Bank to help people start a business but he had yet to receive success stories.
“A lot of our people want an opportunity to go into business but when the opportunity is presented, we don’t take advantage of it and we remain poor,” he said.