Usino-Bundi MP, Hon. Vincent Kumura, has called on the government to clarify the management and long-term sustainability of the K1 billion emergency fuel relief fund amid ongoing fuel price uncertainty in Papua New Guinea.
Speaking in Parliament, Kumura asked whether the K1 billion allocation was formally captured in the 2026 national budget and pressed the government to explain how the emergency funding was sourced to address rising fuel costs.
He claimed that more than K630 million had already been spent in the first quarter of the year to subsidize fuel importers, including ExxonMobil and Puma Energy.
Kumura urged the government to outline the timeframe for the subsidy rollout and questioned whether the program could remain viable, especially as Middle East tensions continue to impact global fuel prices.
He also raised concerns over warnings from the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) against price gouging by PMV operators, bus drivers, and trucking companies during the crisis.
He said transport operators and consumers remain uncertain about how long fuel price stability measures will last and called on the government to provide public assurance.
Kumura urged for long-term solutions to PNG’s fuel challenges, questioning whether the government is seriously considering downstream processing of the country’s oil and gas resources as part of a broader strategy to strengthen fuel security and drive rural and economic development.