Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: FILE]
Businesses have been encouraged to remain vigilant despite developments in the global fuel market.
Former National Disaster Management Office Director Vasiti Soko stressed this during the Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council webinar on fuel preparedness.
Soko warns that businesses should not view the issue as a fuel price challenge alone.
She says unlike cyclones, which often have a clear beginning and end, fuel crises can develop gradually and persist for months.
“No disaster is the same. Treat every disaster differently. And therefore, please make sure that your business continuity plan follows through the process.”
Soko is urging businesses to review their continuity plans.
“Most plans assume fuel will always be available. Now, ask yourself this question. Does your business continuity plan have a scenario where fuel is unavailable for several weeks—not a cyclone, not a flood, but a fuel-specific disruption in your organisation?”
Acting Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development Mitieli Cama says authorities continue to monitor fuel stock levels.
“The team managed to develop a framework as well , assuming that when the fuel controller declared a fuel emergency, we would have that prioritisation framework already available to at least provide some guidance on how the fuel can be prioritised in terms of the available stock that will be available to us.”
The webinar brought together officials, regulators, and private sector representatives to discuss preparedness measures as Fiji navigates ongoing uncertainty in global markets.
