Resupply due by end of January
Viva Energy is responsible for the delivery of fuel to Cocos Keeling Islands, Australia’s most remote community, and an unfortunate series of events late last year has led to a shortage of premium unleaded fuel on the islands.
Viva Energy has been actively working on alternative supply solutions. We take our responsibility for supply to the islands seriously and are working closely with the island community as we develop the quickest resolution.
Resupply of fuel is due on island at the end of January.
The issues that led to the stock-out include urgent and unexpected maintenance of tankage used to supply fuel to the island, which was unable to be repaired before the departure of the delivery ship. As a result, only one of the two ISO tanks was available for the pre-Christmas delivery.
A review of stocks at the end of November showed sufficient fuel on the islands to last until the end of December; however, much higher than normal demand, coupled with the tank outage, stripped the stocks in just a few weeks.
The supply ship that was scheduled for December 28 has now been delayed by four weeks and is due at the Cocos Islands in late January. Issues that led to the shipping delay include congestion at Fremantle Port and the impact of cyclone/weather challenges.
This is a very unusual situation and has been caused by an unfortunate series of events. Viva Energy has taken concrete steps to investigate the issue and is planning to hold additional contingency stock on island.
Viva Energy has increased the volume of fuel to be delivered on the next supply ship and plans to deliver four to five months’ worth of stock. The intention is to maintain higher stock holdings in future and keep an extra ISO tank in circulation.
About Viva Energy
Viva Energy is one of Australia’s leading energy companies and supplies approximately a quarter of the country’s liquid fuel requirements. It is the exclusive supplier of high quality Shell fuels and lubricants in Australia through an extensive network of around 1,330 service stations across the country. Viva Energy owns and operates the strategically located Geelong Refinery in Victoria, and operates bulk fuels, aviation, bitumen, marine, chemicals and lubricants businesses supported by more than 20 terminals and 50 airports and airfields across the country.
www.vivaenergy.com.au