Puma Energy acquired Inter Oil in 2014 becoming Papua New Guinea's major supplier of fuel. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Papua New Guinea's Customs Commissioner, Ray Paul, says there is no attempt to prevent PNG's major petrol supplier doing business in the country.
Puma Energy has reportedly warned that the country is set to run out of petrol in the coming weeks as the company winds down its supply amid negotiations with the state over 1.4 billion US dollars in taxes it has been asked to pay.
Mr Paul confirms Customs has some outstanding issues with Puma that it is currently in discussions with the company to resolve.
But he insists Customs is not preventing Puma operating as normal.
"We have not and we will not because we are here to grow business in PNG, number one. secondly, we... as much as possible, they are investors, they're coming in here, and what they invest in, we want to see them having their return, so we're not in the business to close anyone from doing business unless they have issues, then yes we will want to deal with them up front."
