16 Dec 2022

Petrol stations quiet on Rarotonga as petrol runs out

7:26 am on 16 December 2022
A motorist uses a pump as they re-fuel their car with unleaded petrol at a filling station in central London

Photo: AFP or licensors

The Cooks Islands has run out of petrol.

The next confirmed shipment of petrol is not due to arrive in Rarotonga until Sunday, leaving providers struggling with a lack of supply.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Rebecca Tavioni told the Cook Islands News the petrol shortage highlights a potential issue with wholesale reserves.

"We know that currently there are two wholesale licenses for petrol importers who sell direct to consumers, in other words the general public," Tavioni said.

"Triad is one of the wholesalers and maintains approximately three months' worth of petrol reserves for their customer base. We believe that Triad is the only wholesaler to proactively maintain reserve stocks on island."

Island Bike and Car Hire's Richard Vincent said most people will have fuel in their cars because an advance warning was given.

As the country is heading into a low tourism season he has much of his fleet parked in the yard.

"We are going through the fleet that are parked up there to drag cars out or vehicles that have got some fuel in them, and hopefully we'll get through to next week in which case I'm hoping that we'll have some fuel on the island."

"All our vehicles are petrol and because it is the low season now we do have a lot of our fleet are not being used. So that means we are going through the fleet that are parked up there to drag vehicles out that have got some fuel in them. And hopefully we'll get through to next week at which point I'm hoping we'll have some fuel on the island.

"After that it'll be pretty dire and I guess our business will stop."