In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Special FFMM session endorses regional response mechanism under the Biketawa Declaration
2. PACIFIC — PIFS continues in-person meetings despite costs and fuel worries
3. PACIFIC — Australia, New Zealand back Pacific response mechanism plan
4. PACIFIC — Tonga warns Pacific becoming crime hub
5. FIJI — ‘Fiji’ labelled drugs were not routed to pass through Fiji: Police
6. PACIFIC — Chambers backs Pacific police leaders confronting corruption challenges amid drug trade concerns
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Defence helps Pacific partners fight illegal fishing
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Kiribati holds steady on fuel costs, eyes 24/7 airport operations
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Vanuatu: Partner up or perish
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji launches aviation centre to become Pacific training hub
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific urged to act on housing crisis
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — From Fiji to French Polynesia, how Pacific islands are uniquely vulnerable to the oil crisis
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP builds capacity of ‘facilitators of knowledge’ to respond to environmental challenges
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PIFS PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
Special FFMM session endorses regional response mechanism under the Biketawa Declaration
HONIARA, 25 MAY 2026 (PIFS) — Pacifici Islands Forum Foreign Ministers convened virtually on Friday, 22 May 2026, for a Special Session of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM), where they endorsed the regional response mechanism to the emerging energy crisis affecting Pacific economies, communities, and essential services.
The meeting was chaired from Honiara by the Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Rick Houenipwela, with the support of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa.
The Special Session followed the decision of Forum Leaders last month to invoke the Biketawa Declaration to establish a collective regional mechanism to guide the Forum’s response to the evolving crisis.
Ministers shared national experiences and highlighted the growing pressures facing Pacific communities as a result of rising energy costs, fuel supply uncertainty, and wider disruptions linked to the prolonged Middle East conflict. They noted that these pressures are being felt across key sectors, including transport, shipping, aviation, public services, and household livelihoods.
“The decision by Leaders to invoke the Biketawa Declaration, and to convene this Special Session of the FFMM, reflects the seriousness with which the Forum is approaching this evolving situation,” said the Chair of the FFMM, Houenipwela.
“It also reinforces the importance of regional solidarity, effective coordination, and timely collective action as developments continue to unfold.”
Forum Secretary General Waqa said the discussions underscored the vulnerability of the Blue Pacific to external shocks and the importance of working together as one region.
“As highlighted through the regional assessments undertaken by our regional agencies, our Blue Pacific remains highly exposed to external shocks transmitted through global fuel markets, maritime supply chains, and international aviation systems,” Secretary General Waqa said.
“These pressures are now beginning to intersect across Pacific economies, with direct implications on essential services, connectivity, economic resilience and the livelihoods of our people.”
Ministers acknowledged the work undertaken by the agencies of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) through the establishment of a dedicated CROP Taskforce in recent weeks to compile regional data, analysis, and advice to support informed decision-making by Leaders under the Biketawa Declaration.
The meeting also reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to collective action in times of regional challenges. It also underscored the continuing relevance of the Biketawa Declaration as a mechanism for Pacific-led coordination, solidarity, and practical response.
As the situation continues to evolve, Forum Members will remain closely engaged to ensure that the region’s response is timely and firmly grounded in the shared priorities and interests of Pacific peoples…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
PIFS continues in-person meetings despite costs and fuel worries
HONIARA MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is pushing ahead with in-person regional meetings despite mounting financial and logistical pressures across the region, as member governments confront ongoing concerns over fuel supply.
After the virtual special foreign ministers’ meeting in Honiara, PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa said discussions had already taken place with Singapore, a major hub for regional fuel supply, and that those talks had produced assurances.
“What we did discuss today (Friday), as the ministers discussed, was the suppliers of fuel to the Pacific,’’ Waqa said.
“Already discussions have been had and done with, especially Singapore. And we got assurance from ministers and those who have met Singapore recently to ensure and to announce to members foreign ministers at this meeting that Singapore pledges to continue to support and unhinder any supply to the Pacific.”
The meeting also highlighted the strain that rising costs are placing on the region’s regular diplomatic calendar.
Islands Business asked whether the Forum would continue to hold major gatherings in person, given the financial and logistical pressures already facing member countries, and whether more meetings might be moved online as a cost-saving measure.
Waqa said the secretariat had prepared for disruption and was working through the practical difficulties of bringing leaders together across a scattered ocean region. The upcoming schedule includes the foreign ministers’ meeting, the finance and economic ministers’ meeting in Majuro, and the leaders’ meeting in Palau.
“In fact, we at the Forum Secretariat have prepared ourselves for the possibility that this crisis would affect some of our very important meetings, such as this,’’ he said.
“The foreign ministers meeting, the finance and economic ministers meeting in Majuro, and the leaders meeting in Palau.”
He acknowledged the scale of the travel challenge, noting the distance to Palau and the extra expense of moving delegations across the Pacific.
“As you know, Palau is way up there. But we are already discussing logistics, how we can get our people up there.”
Despite the pressure, the Forum wants to keep the leaders’ summit in person.
“We want to have a face-to-face meeting of leaders (and) at this time we can,” he said.
He added that the Forum had received backing from partners and member states to keep the gathering on track.
“We’ve got some assurance from partners, friends, and members of the forum to support logistical arrangements to ensure that the leaders’ meeting goes ahead without any problem.”
Waqa also pointed to the region’s geography, saying the Pacific does not offer the same ease of movement between capitals that some other parts of the world enjoy.
“It’s not around this part of the world where we can hitchhike here and there with the Australians and New Zealand aircraft and all that,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
Australia, New Zealand back Pacific response mechanism plan
HONIARA, 25 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Pacific Ministers have taken the first concrete step toward creating a regional mechanism to help member countries respond collectively to economic shocks, fuel costs and supply-chain pressures, with Australia and New Zealand signalling support for the effort.
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General Baron Waqa said the Special Session of the Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was about launching the structure rather than setting every detail.
“The regional mechanism, I think, that’s the purpose of this meeting, is to set it up.”
He added that ministers had discussed the issue, but the forum had not reached the level of detail on issues such as pooled fuel procurement.
“We haven’t gone into quite the detail that you’re asking, but that’s the next step,” he said, describing the new body as a complement to national responses already underway.
Waqa said the mechanism would provide the region with a collective way to manage priorities and engage with external partners.
He said Australia and New Zealand had already shown full endorsement and commitment to assisting the Pacific in whatever way they can, including support for the mechanism’s technical work.
“It was clear from both of them that they endorse the regional approach,” Waqa said…
“There’ll be a lot that we will discuss in terms of how they will prioritise the issues that will be tabled before them.”
The new structure will be used to elevate politically sensitive issues to foreign ministers and, if needed, leaders later this year…. PACNEWS
PAC – ORGANISED CRIME: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
Tonga warns Pacific becoming crime hub
NADI, 25 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Tonga’s Prime Minister and Minister for Police, Lord Fakafanua, has warned that Pacific Island nations are increasingly becoming destination countries for illicit drugs and transnational crime.
Speaking at the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit in Fiji, Lord Fakafanua said while Tonga is a small island state, it is also a “large ocean state” sharing common vulnerabilities with the wider Pacific region in confronting organised crime.
He said Pacific countries are facing growing threats including illicit drugs, money laundering, human trafficking and cyber-enabled crime, adding that the region must strengthen collective responses to emerging security risks.
Fakafanua cautioned that Pacific nations were no longer only transit points for drugs moving through the region but are now increasingly becoming destination markets.
Addressing delegates, he outlined Tonga’s national response framework to illicit drugs, which is based on three pillars — reducing supply, reducing demand and minimising harm.
He said Tonga maintained some of the toughest penalties in the world for drug use and supply, noting that in 2018, King Tupou VI declared illicit drugs one of the greatest threats to the Kingdom.
Fakafanua also highlighted ongoing legislative reforms, including a new Money Laundering Act aimed at strengthening financial investigations and targeting criminal proceeds.
He said Tonga was investing in improved intelligence and policing capability, including upgraded databases, analytical software, maritime awareness systems, automated fingerprinting technology and enhanced detection equipment.
The prime minister stressed the need for stronger regional coordination through mechanisms such as the Pacific Transnational Crime Network, the Pacific Fusion Centre and regional policing partnerships, saying collective action is critical to addressing transnational threats across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
‘Fiji’ labelled drugs were not routed to pass through Fiji: Police
SUVA, 25 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Police say a major drug shipment intercepted in Sydney was not routed through Fiji or the Pacific, despite cocaine bricks in the haul being stamped with the word “Fiji”.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) uncovered 373 kilogrammes of illicit drugs hidden inside a diesel generator during a seizure in Sydney recently.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that the Fiji Police Force’s Transnational Crime Unit (TCU) had been alerted to the shipment’s intended route.
“Joint sharing of information and intelligence had been ongoing to determine the destination of the illicit substances,” Naisoro told the Fiji Sun.
The TCU is a dedicated unit that monitors and investigates cross-border criminal activity.
The seizure was made after an x-ray flagged anomalies during a routine inspection, leading authorities to discover 106 one-kilogramme blocks of cocaine, 14kg of loose cocaine, 250kg of methamphetamine, 3kg of MDMA, and 800g of 2CB.
Cocaine bricks stamped with the word “Fiji” were among the drugs seized.
It is not the first time the Fiji label has appeared on intercepted drug packages. In November 2024, cocaine bricks marked “Fiji” were among a 13-tonne haul seized in Spain, hidden in a banana shipment from Ecuador.
The Sydney seizure comes days after Fiji and the AFP co-hosted the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit in Suva last week, where AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett warned that 17 tonnes of illicit drugs had already been seized across the Pacific region in 2026 alone — far exceeding the 4.6 tonnes seized during the whole of 2025…. PACNEWS
PAC – ORGANISED CRIME MEET: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Mon 25 May 2026
Chambers backs Pacific police leaders confronting corruption challenges amid drug trade concerns
NADI, 25 MAY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says Pacific Island nations are addressing corruption amongst their police and customs officials.
Chambers has concluded a trip to Suva, Fiji, for the inaugural Pacific Transnational Crime Summit, which brought together Pacific police chiefs, ministers and prime ministers to discuss what is now a “destination market” for drugs and human trafficking.
He said there was a willingness among police chiefs, most of whom are dealing with corruption in their ranks, to discuss these issues with humility.
“We appreciate that it’s pretty hard sometimes to turn down an offer of a large sum of money when the incomes that many police staff earn aren’t great,” Chambers said.
“New Zealand will support our Pacific neighbours when it comes to particular problems, and that’s not new; we’ve done that for many years.”
New Zealand Police have confirmed their involvement in a six-month investigation into eleven Fiji police officers who were allegedly involved with Auckland-based drug dealers.
The investigation followed a leak of more than 100 text screenshots depicting officers accepting bribes and tipping people off about impending raids.
Chambers refused to provide any specifics about that case or any others in which New Zealand may be involved.
However, he said that he had “absolute trust” in the Fiji Police Force and its commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu.
“He talks quite openly about the challenges that he’s encountered as the commissioner there, and what he’s doing to stamp it out,” Chambers said.
“I’ve been a police officer for 30 years, and over that time I’ve done a lot of work with Fiji … I’ve never experienced any issues myself.”
The Pacific is a strategic transit point for traffickers both in Southeast Asia and Central America. Referred to colloquially by officials and experts as the “narco highway”, product is funnelled through Pacific communities on its way to Australia and New Zealand, where street prices are among the highest in the world.
Chambers’ Australian counterpart Krissy Barrett called this her “nation’s shame”, making for a “moral responsibility” to act. Australia has previously committed AUD$400 million (US$285 million) to regional policing efforts.
One action stemming from the summit is a new dob-in line for Pacific communities, calling on the public to “be the community’s eyes and ears.”
The online platform, dubbed Pacific Watch, “will allow the public to” safely and anonymously report suspicious behaviour, drug-related activities and other crimes threatening community safety,”
The website features links to every Pacific country’s police page, as well as a “report now” button that leads to a Microsoft Form. It prompts the user to offer the suspect’s name or nicknames, their appearance and features, occupations, transport and a specific address, on top of describing the activity.
“Phase two” will reportedly include the ability to upload photos and videos as evidence.
It comes after the AFP announced a new office in Bogota, Colombia, alongside Colombian, Mexican, US, Interpol and Pacific force, with a focus on disrupting supply lines. It would serve as an intelligence source for Pacific officials at one of the key entrances and exits of the narco highway.
New Zealand will send a liaison officer there “before Christmas”, Chambers said.
Chambers said military officials from across the world were crawling at the summit.
“[One] thing that has been a particular focus is the coordination that needs to occur across all maritime activity,” he said.
“So, besides the Australian Navy, here we have the French Navy, the Mexican Navy, the Colombian Navy,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – ILLEGAL FISHING: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 25 May 2026
Defence helps Pacific partners fight illegal fishing
SYDNEY, 25 MAY 2026 (AAP) — Illegal fishing costs Pacific Island nations hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue each year but an Australian-backed operation is helping them fight back.
The Southwest Pacific is the world’s most fertile fishing ground, supplying more than half of the tuna sold globally.
Which is why the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has joined a multinational effort to detect and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.
As part of Operation Solania, a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and supporting personnel deployed to the Cook Islands and Tonga, working alongside the Royal New Zealand Air Force, have been supporting the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s Operation Tui Moana.
Operation Tui Moana is one of four annual Pacific-led maritime surveillance operations.
In May, ADF surveillance patrols covered 113,220sq km of sea, identifying potential threats to Pacific partners’ marine resources and countering transnational organised crime.
They successfully identified 12 vessels of interest suspected of illegal fishing in Tonga and the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zones.
Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said fisheries protection was essential to long-term sustainability.
“Australia continues to prioritise our region by deploying ADF assets to support Pacific-led arrangements that safeguard regional prosperity and security,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Working together to deliver Pacific-led, Australian-backed solutions to Pacific security challenges is essential to ensuring our region’s stability and protecting our sovereignty.”
Unlicensed fishing by foreign boats was historically the primary threat to the area, but better satellite tracking has made it easier to detect illegal boats.
The most prevalent problem now involves vessels drastically misreporting their catch volume or illegally transferring catches to larger ships out on the high seas…. PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – AIRLINE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 25 May 2026
Air Kiribati holds steady on fuel costs, eyes 24/7 airport operations
RAROTONGA/TARAWA, 25 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Air Kiribati Chairman Kevin Rouatu says the national carrier has yet to feel any fuel price increase from the Middle East crisis due to the nation’s low level of consumption, but expects impact to arrive soon as he pushes for around-the-clock airport operations and closer work with countries in the region.
Rouatu said the government and Kiribati Oil Company are negotiating with suppliers. So far, fuel continues flowing at the same price because suppliers view Kiribati’s demand as minimal.
“We haven’t felt the impact yet,” Rouatu said.
“The flow is still flowing. Price is still the same. But we expect that impact will be experienced very soon.”
A more immediate challenge is that Kiribati’s main airport cannot operate after 7pm, forcing international carriers to wait until the next day.
Rouatu described this as “not conducive” for airlines wanting 24/7 flexibility.
“We need to be able to get connected 24/7,” he said. “We keep on pushing them. We need it.”
In terms of tourism, Rouatu said Kiribati definitely needs more visitors, though resources are limited.
He identified the nation’s people as the main untapped asset, but said accommodation remains a major hurdle. More hotels must be built before visitor numbers can grow meaningfully.
Air Kiribati currently operates one Embraer E190 and will take delivery of a second next month through a partnership with Australian-based ACJC. The airline is also looking to purchase two additional aircraft within five years.
Rouatu identified the small regional market as the Pacific’s biggest challenge, warning that “there’s no point in having 100 international planes to serve a very limited market.”
His solution is collaboration – not necessarily full mergers but synchronized efforts across airlines and tourism offices.
“We’re working in silos,” he said. “Unless we synchronize our movement, it will be difficult to attract the rest of the world to the Pacific.”
He put forward the idea of multi-destination itineraries, allowing visitors to spend three days in Nauru, three in Kiribati, and three elsewhere. “We need to look at how we can link together,” he said…. PACNEWS
VAN – AIRLINE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 25 May 2026
Air Vanuatu: Partner up or perish
RAROTONGA/PORT VILA, 25 MAY 2926 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Air Vanuatu Chairman Robin Deamer says the government stepped in with fuel subsidies to prevent ticket price hikes amid the Middle East crisis, as the national carrier pushes ahead with fleet renewal and hopes the region can come together to tackle mounting operational challenges.
While confirming the government’s backstop role, he said that fuel depots have three to four months of stock, although cautioning that overseas carriers using local supplies could create pressures in the months ahead.
Deamer revealed that the runway is currently being cleared on the southern island of Tanna, where overhanging trees had prevented fully loaded ATR-72-600 takeoffs. New runways capable of handling larger aircraft are in the works for Malakula and Motalava.
Tourism, Vanuatu’s main industry, is rebuilding after COVID-19, and a major earthquake one year ago that damaged resorts and other buildings, and he said the country desperately needs more visitors and is taking “baby steps” to restore infrastructure.
For its part, the airline has already purchased two fully rebuilt Twin Otter aircraft from Florida-based AMS, with Deamer personally ferrying the first from the United States in January.
A second Twin Otter arrives in June. The government has also set aside funds for an additional ATR to reduce the risks of operating a single aircraft.
Deamer identified a global shortage of spare parts and pilots as the region’s biggest challenge. He urged Pacific carriers to stop talking and start collaborating – pooling parts, simulators, and aircraft.
One solution that is under discussion at the moment: a regional fuel processing plant in Papua New Guinea.
He was straightforward in his final summation of things: “Airplanes don’t make money when they’re on the ground,” Deamer said.
“If you think you’ll operate alone successfully for the next ten years, you might as well throw away the keys,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AVIATION: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 25 May 2026
Fiji launches aviation centre to become Pacific training hub
SUVA, 25 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji is positioning itself as a regional aviation training hub with the launch of the Pacific Centre for Aviation Studies at Fiji National University’s Bonunaqwele Campus in Nadi.
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka said the new centre was expected to play a major role in advancing aviation training and development across the Pacific.
Speaking at the launch last Friday, Gavoka said the centre reflected a strong vision and commitment to strengthening Fiji’s role in regional aviation education.
“Aviation remains one of the most critical sectors driving economic growth, connectivity, tourism, trade, and regional cooperation,” he said.
“The Pacific Centre for Aviation Studies represents more than just a new academic centre. It symbolises progress, innovation, and opportunity. It reflects a shared commitment between Government, industry stakeholders, and educational institutions to invest in our people and ensure that Fiji remains at the forefront of aviation training and development within the Pacific.”
Gavoka said future developments would include dedicated regional scholarships, adoption of international aviation standards, cost-effective regional training opportunities, stronger industry partnerships, and expansion into advanced aviation technologies.
Since the inception of the Fiji Institute of Technology, 580 students have graduated from aviation programmes and contributed to the aviation industry locally and across the region.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said the university remained committed to supporting Fiji’s national development priorities.
“We continue to align our work with Fiji’s national priorities and contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.
“Our vision is to be the leading dual-sector transformative university predicated on inclusiveness, innovation, and accessibility for Fiji and the Pacific.”
Professor Nabobo-Baba said FNU was also committed to expanding access to students from neighbouring Pacific Island countries.
FNU remains the sole provider of the Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Mechanical) Level 4 and the Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Avionics) Level 4 programmes…. PACNEWS
PAC – HOUSING: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 25 May 2026
Pacific urged to act on housing crisis
SUVA, 25 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Nearly half of Fiji’s housing stock is in average to poor condition, with thousands of families left vulnerable to climate-related disasters, Fiji’s Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, has warned.
Speaking at the Pacific Housing Forum in Suva, Nalumisa said the Pacific was facing a deepening housing crisis driven by rapid urbanisation, affordability pressures and increasing climate risks.
He told around 100 participants that about 24 percent of Fiji’s urban population currently lives in informal settlements, while rising demand for housing continues to outpace supply nationwide.
“The status quo is no longer sustainable,” he said, stressing that housing is a basic human right and a critical pillar of social stability, financial security and climate resilience.
Nalumisa said the challenges were not unique to Fiji, noting that similar struggles across Pacific Island countries continue to affect communities, with housing shortages, insecure land tenure, and inadequate infrastructure.
He said housing must go beyond providing shelter and must ensure “decent housing” that protects dignity and supports long-term development.
The minister acknowledged the long-standing partnership of Habitat for Humanity International and the Government of New Zealand in supporting the 35-year-old Pacific Housing Forum, which brings together governments, development partners and practitioners to address regional housing challenges.
Nalumisa outlined Fiji’s housing reform agenda, including the National Housing Policy 2025–2030, which shifts toward a coordinated system involving public-private partnerships, financial institutions and international support.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to formalise informal settlements, with 48 development leases already secured to provide residents with secure land tenure, enabling home upgrades and financing opportunities.
Other measures include the First Home Ownership Grant, rent-to-own schemes through the Public Rental Board, and expanded support for low- and middle-income households struggling to access housing finance.
The minister said Fiji was targeting stronger climate-resilient housing standards, with at least 20 per cent of new developments expected to be green-certified by 2030.
Nalumisa said strengthening housing supply, improving affordability, and building resilience must remain urgent regional priorities, warning that without action, vulnerable communities will continue to bear the brunt of both economic and climate pressures…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
From Fiji to French Polynesia, how Pacific islands are uniquely vulnerable to the oil crisis
SUVA/PAPE’ETE, 25 MAY 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — When 53-year-old Agbar Mohammad pulled into a petrol station in Fiji in May, he was expecting a queue. Instead, it was almost empty. “I could only see one or two cars at the service station, which was very unusual,” Mohammad says.
The reason became clear very quickly: as Mohammad filled his car, the numbers on the fuel pump climbed so much faster than the needle on his dashboard. Normally he would put in about $40(US$20) of fuel, but this time $100 (US$50) barely got his 60-litre tank halfway full.
The Pacific region is already at the forefront of the climate crisis thanks to rising sea levels and increasing natural disasters. But the fuel crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran is revealing another fossil-fuel based vulnerability. The reliance of countries and territories in the Pacific on imported oil is expected to hit economic growth and increase inflation. The shortages are already showing up in the price of cassava, the cost of the school run, and in businesses’ bottom lines.
Dr Rubayat Chowdhury from the Australian National University (ANU) says Pacific Islands are very dependent on imports for food and basic necessities. And in a region that earns a lot from tourism, remittances and foreign aid, higher fuel prices will not just push up the cost of goods but could also threaten incomes.
“The Pacific will be hit hard,” says Chowdhury, for two main reasons. “The first is its remoteness. And the second is small populations.”
Oil accounted for more than 80 percent of the region’s energy supply in 2023 – more than half of that for transport, and more than a third for electricity.
At least eight Pacific countries generated more than half of their electricity in 2024 from oil products – over 90 percent in Solomon Islands and more than 80 percent in Tonga and Nauru. By comparison Australia and New Zealand derived 2.3 percent and 1.5 percent of their electricity from oil products in 2024, mostly from small, intermittent or temporary sources, such as remote or emergency generators.
Many Pacific countries have a target to generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2030. Some, like Tokelau, have already achieved this, but most have not yet.
Oil products accounted for about 20 percent of all imports for some Pacific countries in 2019, but many also import a lot of food and other staples that cannot be produced locally, meaning higher transport costs will affect a variety of goods and services. Data from the UN shows that in 2021-23, food made up over 20% of net imports in Samoa and Tonga, and over 29 percent in Kiribati.
Many Pacific countries are already taking action, before oil supply shortages start to hit. Fiji’s parliament voted for a 20% pay cut for its members due to pressure on the budget from the global fuel price shock. Other countries have had to repeatedly hike fuel prices while introducing relief for businesses and residents.
To help with fuel security, the Australian government has announced $30m (US$21 million) in support for Fiji – including a supply and storage hub in the region. Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, said this would support the country’s upcoming national budget as Fijians brace for another fuel price increase this month.
Guardian Australia analysis of global trade flows in 2024 found that Pacific countries received most of their fuel from just one of a handful of countries – Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and China. Some Pacific countries source 80 percent, 90 percent or more of their oil products from their largest supplier country.
This kind of concentration could leave Pacific countries exposed if their suppliers have to prioritise their own domestic markets. Australia has already been warned that Malaysia or South Korea might need to do this if the crisis continues.
Dr Chowdhury also notes that Australia is relatively protected from an oil supply shock by its purchasing power, and by being one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of liquefied natural gas. “It’s relatively easier for bigger nations like Australia to negotiate, right? To reach out to Brunei, for example, to secure the oil supply.
“It’s not easy for Solomon Islands or the [Federated States of Micronesia] to do the same.”
For Agbar in Suva, the fuel crisis so far has largely meant working longer hours to break even. For bus operators, tighter margins. For farmers from provinces like Tailevu, Naitasiri and Ra, it means paying more just to get produce into town.
And for fellow driver Gerald Elaisa, every trip now comes with calculation.
“We only buy fuel for the important runs – school, work, home,” he says. “The children now catch the bus or walk. We are cutting down on unnecessary spending.”
For many Fijian families, fuel is no longer just filling their tanks. It is shaping how they live…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPREP builds capacity of ‘facilitators of knowledge’ to respond to environmental challenges
APIA, 25 MAY 2026 (SPREP) — As Pacific communities continue to face increasing environmental challenges and pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks, the need for reliable information and knowledge management has become even more critical.
This places Librarians and Information Officers at the centre of the response to these rising environmental challenges.
At SPREP’s Vailima headquarters, SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, acknowledged the role of Librarians and Information Officers in Samoa, the Pacific region and around the world.
“The role of Librarians and Information Officers has become even more significant in these challenging times,” Nawadra said.
“Librarians are no longer only custodians of books, they are facilitators of knowledge, digital access, research support and learning. This is essential in our collective effort to respond to the increasing environmental challenges before us.”
Amongst other key functions, Nawadra said the research, collection and the storing of information and knowledge is one of most important roles for Librarians and Information Officers.
“You play such a crucial role in nurturing knowledge, and educating the communities, in an effort to make them custodians of such critical knowledge,” Nawadra added.
The Director General of SPREP opened the two-day Environmental Information & Knowledge Management (EIKM) Workshop for Libraries in Samoa, on Wednesday.
Coordinated by the SPREP Knowledge Management Unit, the workshop held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC), was attended by Librarians and Information officers from different schools in Samoa, the Nelson Memorial Library, the University of the South Pacific, Alafua campus and the National University of Samoa.
Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development were also present.
For two days, the participants shared experiences, strengthened environmental information access, explored practical library approaches and built collaboration in relation to their roles.
Day one focused on gender and environmental information (national, regional and global) and understanding key Environmental Information & Knowledge Management (EIKM) concepts. The participants were also briefed on accessing and use of the SPREP Virtual Library and toured the SPREP Information and Knowledge Management Centre (IKMC).
SPREP Knowledge Manager, Maranata Williams-Hazelman said SPREP is extremely pleased to be able to bring together Librarians and Information Officers from around Samoa to collaborate and share ideas about their work.
“We are very pleased to bring together librarians and information officers from across Samoa to share experiences, strengthen professional connections, and explore practical ways libraries can better support environmental learning and access to information,” said Williams-Hazelman.
“We hope participants will leave with greater confidence in using environmental information resources, practical ideas they can apply within their own institutions, and stronger networks for ongoing collaboration.”
Day 2 focused on navigating the SPREP Virtual Library and applying EIKM within school libraries, university libraries, and public libraries across Samoa.
Participants also heard virtually from Lorin Pai, President of the Fiji Library Association and Regional Librarian for USP Library, who shared insights on emerging trends and challenges facing Pacific libraries, practical approaches to strengthening information literacy in resource-constrained settings, and examples of regional collaboration and innovation supporting library resilience and professional networking……PACNEWS
