Forum: Ideas to small Pacific states on fuel

Friday, 6 October 2006, 4:57 am
Press Release: Radio New Zealand International

Forum present ideas to small Pacific states on how to overcome fuel problems

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands’ Forum, Greg Urwin, has told a meeting of the region’s Small Island States that fair and open competition in fuel supply is rare in the region.

Mr Urwin, who was launching a seminar to try and remove some of these impacts, says sustained high oil prices have placed immense pressures on all services in the small states.

He says the seminar will provide viable options for the achievement of affordable, accessible, available and sustainable energy supplies.

He says a recent study shows many small-island states in the region are in a critical position because of market volatility, and supply problems due to one supplier having a monopoly position.

Mr Urwin says another factor has been the absence of effective regulation of the market, showing the need for skilled and experienced regulators and an improvement in the regulatory framework.

He says they hope benefits can be achieved through regional and sub-regional collaboration, and the consolidation of the market through commercial procurement contracts.

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