The MV Maohi  in Nuku'alofa.

The MV Maohi an oil tanker which transports fuel in bulk to the Pacific region from Singapore, visited Nuku'alofa for the first time, this afternoon, as part of an effort by government to help cut down the price of fuel by having it transported directly from Singapore to Tonga.

The Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano and cabinet ministers toured the tanker before joining a lunch at the Queen Salote Wharf. Parliament also adjourned its proceedings in the afternoon to allow members including the Speaker Lord Fakafanua, to attend. 

The visit by the tanker was a trial while negotiations are underway to make a direct service available.

The 183m tanker registered in Luxembourg, can carry up to 40,000 tonnes of petroleum products directly from Singapore to some Pacific islands including Fiji. 

Previously Tongahas been getting its fuel deliveries via Fiji every three weeks, which is costing the country millions of pa'anga annually.

Cheaper

Lord Tu'ivakano said, cheaper oil would solve a lot of problems for Tonga and he thanked Bill Ravel, CEO of the Petrocean company for arranging for the tanker to change its route and stop over in Nuku'alofa today.

He said Tonga was in need of this kind of development. "We have solar power and a reduction in fuel transportation costs will also help with development,." 

He said the freight charges on fuel imports had been costing Tonga US$170 per tonne on the tanker's  route from Singapore via Fiji. "If it comes to Tonga directly the company has offered us a reduced price of US$70 per tonne, and this saves government US$100 which translates into millions," he said. 

Reduction 

The Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu, told parliament on Thursday, July 26 that talks were underway to export fuel directly from Singapore, and that government was looking at two options, including the building of a bulk fuel tank farm in Tongatapu.

Captain Kirlis Peskovs, said the Maohi is a French owned tanker which transports petroleum products to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Papeete.

"This is the first time the tanker is in Nuku'alofa, and we hope that we will be able to directly provide Tonga with their energy resources in the future," he said. 

The tanker was transporting fuel to Papua New Guinea before stopping over in Tonga for a few hours.

The Maohi departed Tonga for Papeete, late this afternoon.