Mission Aviation Fellowship of Papua New Guinea (Mount Hagen) (MAF PNG) has begun importing and stockpiling fuel in response to the country's sole fuel provider, Puma Energy, again saying it will stop supplying aviation fuel at the end of November. MAF PNG calls the situation a "nationwide aviation fuel supply crisis."
In a November 21 statement, MAF PNG said the inability to source locally supplied fuel poses a challenge to sustaining flight operations. These flights serve some of Papua New Guinea's most remote and vulnerable communities. In response, MAF PNG has secured alternative fuel supplies from overseas. These imports, sourced at significantly more cost, are already being shipped to key locations to maintain essential services.
"While these efforts ensure continuity for the immediate future of the services MAF provides, the increased costs of this alternate fuel supply place a heavy financial burden on MAF in PNG, which may necessitate changing where we fly or our pricing," the statement reads.
Puma Energy regularly threatens to or briefly suspends fuel supplies in Papua New Guinea, forcing that country's carriers to make alternative arrangements and/or suspend some operations.
Established after World War II to send aerial support into some of the world’s most disadvantaged regions, Missionary Aviation Fellowship now deploys over 120 single-engine aircraft into dozens of countries, including Papua New Guinea, where it runs a fleet of a fleet of ten standard Cessna (single turboprop) 208 Caravans.
“Our priority is the communities we serve,” said its interim country director, Dom Sant. “This fuel crisis is beyond our control, but we are committed to doing everything possible to minimise disruptions."
