The Tenders Board has yet to announce its decision on which company has secured the contract for the supply of bulk fuel to Samoa.

Petroleum Products Supplies (PPS) Ltd became the first local company to run and manage the fuel distribution system when it won the contract in 2003. 

The five-year contract comprised offshore supply of bulk petroleum fuels to the country, management and maintenance of the fuel terminal and depots on behalf of the Samoa Government, and the local distribution of bulk petroleum fuels to all customers. 

The term of the contract was to have ended last year with bids invited. 

The Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, who is also the Chairman of the Tenders Board, has yet to respond to emails about the matter.

Attempts to get a comment from the Deputy Chair of the Tenders Board, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, who is also the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, were also unsuccessful.

Questions from the Samoa Observer included the cost of the contract, how many companies submitted bids, and the length of the contract.

The contract had been held by PPS.

Questions sent to Petroleum Products Supplies Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Fanene Etuale Sefo, have also yet to be responded to.

According to the Petroleum Products Supplies Ltd website, in 2003, the company – in partnership with Shell Fiji Ltd – successfully bid for the sole petroleum fuel supply and distribution contract in Samoa.

In early 2009, the fuel contract was re-tendered and Petroleum Products Supplies Ltd was again successful in securing another five-year contract term.