PNG supplier limits Port Moresby petrol

2:05 pm on 1 September 2015

Papua New Guinea's fuel supplier says a lack of US dollars has forced it to limit Port Moresby's petrol supplies.

Puma Energy has put the blame on the lack of liquidity in the forex markets and says it is working with the PNG government to resolve the issue.

The multinational says for the past year it has used its own resources in order to avoid fuel product shortages in PNG but that is no longer sustainable.

Petrol tanker leaving Wellington up the Ngauranga Gorge.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

The company has warned of continued shortages over the next few days and other products will be affected if a resolution is not reached this week.

The Prime Minister's office says it expects to conclude talks with Puma soon but has revealed it is talking to other suppliers like Mobil to fill the gap.

It says the monopoly granted to Puma by past governments has come back to haunt the current government.