Zoom shortage hits Lae

By MAZIE SELMBIA
BOAT operators and passengers planning to travel out Lae have been stranded since Friday because of the lack of petrol (zoom) at the service stations.
Boat owner Terry Egi said they could not get fuel (zoom) for their outboard engines.
So they had to take the risk of mixing engine oil with petrol in place of zoom which would damage the engine.
Egi said his boats which travelled to Oro to ferry bags of betel nut bags had been grounded since Friday.
He said boat fares had also increased due to the fuel shortage, affecting Morobe coastal villagers travelling to the city.
“Boat fares for Bukawa has increased to K45. We used to pay only K25,” Egi said.
Village fuel seller Gidi Tuyom of Bukawa urged authorities to address the issue as it was affecting small business owners and villagers.
“If the government needs to bring in another fuel company, then they should do so as Puma is the sole supplier and when they run out, it affects all of us,” Tuyom said.
Jerrol Paul, the pump attendant at the Islands Petroleum service station said that they were out of zoom and petrol.
“We are turning customers away,” Paul said.
He said that they were notified by their depot that they should receive a new supply on Wednesday.
The Total Energies, Islands Petroleum and Mobil service stations in Lae are also out of Zoom and Petrol.