BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Special Duty Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers says the government’s six-month fuel security plan is not fixed but continuously rolling and adaptable.
Dr Rodgers explained that discussions at both national and regional levels are ongoing as the country responds to global uncertainties affecting fuel supply.
“At the regional level, the Prime Minister highlighted that a task force was established during the Pacific Islands Forum Troika meeting held on April 16 in Nadi, Fiji.
“The task force has outlined three possible scenarios: First scenario: A short-term outlook ending in April, assuming the war ends quickly. Second scenario: Six months from May to November, assuming the war ends before November 30 and conditions begin returning to normal. Third scenario: A prolonged situation where the war continues beyond that timeframe,” he said.
Dr Rodgers said that the six-month plan should not be seen as fixed.
“It’s not a static time. The six months are just a roll-on plan. For now, our timeline runs up to November, but it keeps moving,” he said.
He added that importers are in constant communication daily, weekly, and monthly, meaning the planning is continuously updated.
“That is why the Biketawa Declaration is important. The mechanism used to coordinate responses during crises. This framework has previously been used during the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing regional countries to support each other with personnel and supplies.
“In times of crisis, countries that are not our usual suppliers can step in because of the activation of Biketawa,” he said.
Dr Rodgers said that current fuel imports to Solomon Islands come from Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
“Biketawa framework could allow access to alternative suppliers if the situation worsens,” he said.
He said that global fuel production and stockpiles are concentrated in major countries such as the United States, Venezuela, and Russia, meaning international cooperation is essential during supply disruptions.
“The Biketawa framework can also enable regional stockpiling and shared access to resources. For example, recently the U.S opened a fuel storage facility in Papua New Guinea, which could be accessed through regional cooperation,” he said.
Dr Rodgers reiterated that flexibility remains key.
“The six months are not static, but continue to roll as the situation changes and as our importers adjust,” he said.
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