Ali Opens Upgraded Fiji Gas Showroom
The oil and gas industry has evolved over decades and has assisted in improving the economic outlook for Fiji.
Permanent secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism (MITT), Shaheen Ali made these comments while opening the newly renovated Fiji Gas Showroom in Walu Bay, Suva, last night.
Mr Ali said: “The industry has gone through a number of cycles and changes that have required the industry to continuously adapt and evolve.
“Of course, the current fluctuating environment is a test for all producers and investors.
“Fiji Gas therefore has shown resilience by continuing to grow in the face of volatile international prices.
“As we are aware, gas supports a range of economic activities that require heat, such as residential cooking, commercial and industrial applications including transportation as auto-gas.
Incentives for energy
“It becomes essential to use incentives for energy, more efficiently and implement sustainable policies that could lay the groundwork for more diversified and less energydependent economies.
“The current norm is the use of diesel generators and smaller solar solutions to provide air conditioning, which consumes a lot of energy.
“This will no doubt contribute immensely in protecting Fiji’s unspoilt and pristine environment, which is important, not only for the Fijian tourism industry, but the nation at large.”
He said Fiji Gas aims to transition to cleaner forms of energy.
“As our domestic investors (like Fiji Gas) continue to re-invest in the country, it makes us, policymakers, more confident that we are doing things right.
“This shows that the Fijian Government is providing our industries with the enabling environment to do business.”
Mr Ali said LPG was a preferred choice of energy, it is a fossil nonrenewable fuel.
Fiji Gas has a major challenge in the years ahead to find innovative ways to embrace renewable energy, as the World and Fiji is moving in that direction.
Online Information Launch
Meanwhile, Mr Ali said before the end of the year, they would be launching an online Information Portal for Building Permits and Starting a Business.
“This is where one will be able to access application processes, agency checklists and harmonised and consolidated application forms”. Mr Ali said: “MITT is working on enhancing a number of doing business processes.
“We are currently working on obtaining building permits and starting a business.
“The end goal is to have a fully-automated system where applications and approvals are done online on a single platform.So you can expect a lot more efficiency in our doing business environment.”
Fiji Gas chief executive officer, Hans Reiher said: “Fiji Gas is committed to going green and diversifying our core business from simply “the supplier of LPG” to the supplier of energy solutions which includes renewables like sola.”
“It’s the little steps to cleaner and renewable sources of energy that will contribute towards achieving the Government’s target of 100 per cent renewables by 2030.”
About Fiji Gas
Fiji Gas has been operating in Fiji since 1956, and has continued to maintain a market share of approximately 60 per cent, despite competition from other energy companies and types of fuels.
Fiji Gas has greatly transformed its operations to continue to be a major player.