In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australia, NZ pledge energy security and defence push for Pacific
2. PACIFIC — Tuvalu says fossil fuel holdings revealed by AFP ‘not a good look’
3. PACIFIC — ‘When it comes to these threats, we have to be ready to rock and roll:’ Marianas, Micronesia can expect up to seven more storms in 2026
4. PACIFIC — Australia urged to step up climate leadership on oceans
5. FIJI — Tikoduadua challenges NFP to win 15 seats in 2027
6. PACNEWS BIZ — Consultation open on oodel legislation for the Pacific region to gain new powers
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Cook Islands govt’s new online dashboard confirms ‘stable’ fuel stocks
8. PACNEWS BIZ — No fuel shortage in Samoa and supply remains at comfortable levels
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Guam Power Authority seeks alternative fuel sources as Asia’s stocks run low
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Sogavare: PM Wale must stop misleading the country on gold dealer licences
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — The David v Goliath battle playing out in Australia’s backyard
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Climate change: Vanuatu puts communities in the driver’s seat on loss and damage action
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Mobile internet prices in PNG: stability amid infrastructure developments
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Australia, NZ pledge energy security and defence push for Pacific
NOOSA, 08 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Australia and New Zealand have pledged to strengthen support for Pacific Island countries facing supply chain disruptions and rising fuel costs, while deepening defence, trade and security cooperation under a renewed trans-Tasman partnership.
In a joint statement following the Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the growing pressures confronting Pacific nations and reaffirmed their commitment to working together to support the region.
The two leaders said Pacific Island countries are “acutely exposed to supply chain disruptions and rising fuel costs” and stressed the need for practical support.
“As founding members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), they expressed their continued commitment to stand with the Pacific family, and to respond in ways that are practical, reliable, and guided by Pacific priorities.”
The Prime Ministers also committed to continue advocating for stable, reliable and secure energy supplies for Pacific countries.
“Prime Ministers committed to continue advocating for stable, reliable, and secure energy supply for the Pacific, to support national response planning and Pacific-led efforts to respond to global shocks and strengthen regional resilience.”
Australia and New Zealand agreed to deepen cooperation on supply measures, demand management and crisis planning, while continuing efforts to secure critical supplies, expand strategic reserves and strengthen supply chains.
The leaders said reliable and affordable energy remains critical to economic security and reaffirmed their commitment to improving energy resilience on both sides of the Tasman.
Trade and supply chain resilience were also high on the agenda, with both countries stressing the importance of keeping trade routes open and connected to ensure the movement of fuel and essential goods.
“As founding members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, they reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating to strengthen regional supply chain resilience against disruptions.”
The two leaders also reaffirmed their support for the rules-based multilateral trading system.
“They reaffirmed their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core, and acknowledged that respect for trade commitments, including international trade standards and norms, underpins our prosperity and resilience, and that of our region.”
They committed to working with other trading partners to modernise and strengthen the WTO through meaningful reforms and to ensure global trade flows remain uninterrupted.
On defence and security, the Prime Ministers marked the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, describing it as the foundation of the Australia-New Zealand Alliance.
“Prime Ministers acknowledged the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, the foundation of our Alliance and our defence and security partnership. They reaffirmed that our Alliance was critical to safeguard our collective security and support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific region.’
The leaders endorsed the Anzac 2035: Operationalising the Alliance Joint Statement, setting out a ten-year vision for the alliance focused on force posture, combined operations, preparedness, resilience, defence industry integration and Pacific security.
They welcomed progress made over the past year in strengthening defence cooperation, supported by Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy and New Zealand’s 2025 Defence Capability Plan.
The statement highlighted collaboration to support enhanced strike capabilities for the New Zealand Defence Force and recognised New Zealand’s first participation as part of the Australian contingent in Exercise BALIKATAN.
The Prime Ministers also welcomed continued naval cooperation as New Zealand advances plans to replace its frigates.
“Prime Ministers welcomed the focus on strengthening integration to collectively deter actions contrary to the security and stability of our region.”
The leaders reaffirmed their support for the AUKUS partnership, stating that capability and technology sharing under the arrangement contributes to regional security and stability.
They also agreed on the importance of closer cooperation on artificial intelligence, saying it would help support responsible AI adoption, strengthen security safeguards and promote shared standards internationally.
The statement concluded with both leaders welcoming the strength of the Australia-New Zealand security and intelligence partnership amid what they described as an increasingly uncertain and contested geostrategic environment…. PACNEWS
PAC – FOSSIL FUEL: AFP PACNEWS 2: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Tuvalu says fossil fuel holdings revealed by AFP ‘not a good look’
TOKYO, 08 JUNE 2026 (AFP) — Tuvalu’s prime minister voiced disappointment Friday over the island nation’s fossil fuel holdings, after AFP revealed a trust fund for the climate change-threatened state had invested in oil and coal.
The investigation published last week showed that global advisory firm Mercer has invested on Tuvalu’s behalf in funds exposed to coal mining, gas exploration and the world’s largest crude oil refinery.
Prime Minister Feleti Teo told AFP he was personally disappointed to learn of these investments, which Tuvalu is now reviewing.
“It’s not a good look on Tuvalu, given the very strong advocacy work that we do in terms of combating climate change,” he told AFP on the sidelines of the Island State Oceans Summit in Tokyo.
Few countries are more exposed to climate change than Tuvalu, a chain of coral atolls reckoning with acidifying oceans, tropical disease and rising seas.
Land is already so scarce across the archipelago — halfway between Australia and Hawaii — that the international airport runway doubles as a makeshift sports field.
With a fragile economy and few natural resources, Tuvalu relies on a government trust fund to help foot the growing costs of the climate crisis.
Mercer took over management of the US$200 million Tuvalu Trust Fund in 2022.
It has since invested in funds that include Indian energy giant Reliance Industries, which owns the largest oil refinery in the world, and The Southern Company, the second-biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the United States.
“I think we were also surprised when we first heard of that information,” Teo said, referring to AFP’s findings.
“So, we are doing our own internal due diligence, but it’s obviously not a good image to us.”
Tuvalu has long been renowned for its staunch advocacy in support of urgent climate action.
It was one of the first nations to sign a proposed treaty calling for an end to the expansion of fossil fuel projects.
Tuvalu will receive a rare burst of international attention later this year when it hosts leaders for a special summit ahead of the UN’s COP31 climate conference.
The meeting has been billed as a chance to show how climate change is battering the South Pacific.
Teo said a key focus would be on how big-polluting nations can help finance the costs of climate mitigation in exposed states like his.
Pacific island neighbour Vanuatu secured a landmark win last year in the International Court of Justice, which found nations had a legal duty to prevent harms from planet-warming pollution.
Teo floated the idea of taking legal action to force climate reparations, saying a class action involving multiple nations would be “more attractive to us”.
“”I think it will be much stronger than a country individually taking such actions.
“But it’s a possibility that we are not ruling out,” he said.
Mercer previously told AFP: “We do not provide commentary or analysis on our clients or their investment portfolios…. PACNEWS
PAC – WEATHER WATCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 08 Jun 2026
‘When it comes to these threats, we have to be ready to rock and roll:’ Marianas, Micronesia can expect up to seven more storms in 2026
SAIPAN, 08 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan can expect between four and seven named tropical storms in the region for the remainder of 2026, with three to five of those developing into typhoons, according to Landon Aydlett, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Guam.
Two or three of those storms are expected to reach major typhoon intensity, Aydlett said at Friday’s Joint Guam/CNMI Typhoon Preparedness Month press conference.
Aydlett emphasised that the outlook reflects how many storms are likely to form or pass through the area, not whether any will make landfall.
“We’re not guaranteed to take another direct hit,” he said, “but the likelihood of a direct hit is going to be much higher than a La Niña year.”
The higher‑than‑average prediction is tied to the ongoing El Niño pattern, which shifts storm formation farther east of Guam. Systems that form earlier and farther east have more time to intensify before reaching the Marianas.
During La Niña years, such as 2025, storms tend to form farther west, strengthening as they move away from Micronesia rather than toward it.
Aydlett said the Marianas are not the only islands expecting increased activity. Northern CNMI may see three to five storms, including two or three typhoons and up to two major typhoons.
Yap could experience three to five storms, with as many as three becoming typhoons and one reaching major intensity.
Palau is forecast to see two to four named storms, with one or two strengthening into typhoons.
Chuuk may see four to six storms, up to three typhoons and one major system, while Pohnpei may see three to five storms, up to three typhoons and one major. Kosrae and nearby islands may see one to three storms, with at most one becoming a typhoon.
The Marshall Islands may see between two and four storms in the northern atolls, with up to two typhoons and one major system, while the southern Marshalls may see one or two storms, with at most one reaching typhoon strength.
Aydlett said the intensity of recent storms, including Sinlaku, has strengthened interagency relationships.
“One of the side effects of typhoon preparedness is that everyone we work with becomes best friends,” he said. “When it comes to these threats, we have to be ready to rock and roll.”
Aydlett cautioned that even in El Niño years — which historically bring more storms — weather patterns do not always behave as expected.
“This is not a time to panic, but it’s just a reminder to prepare and be ready,” he said. “Readiness and preparedness should be year‑round for all of us in the islands, because disasters can strike at any time, whether it is a typhoon or an earthquake.
In their closing remarks, Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero and CNMI Govenor David Apatang urged unity, cooperation and preparedness as the Marianas enter another typhoon season.
Both leaders stressed that stronger planning, better coordination and community‑wide action are essential to protecting lives and strengthening island communities.
Leon Guerrero thanked emergency planners, weather officials, homeland security leaders, first responders and other stakeholders for helping Guam and the CNMI better understand storm risks and improve disaster response. She said that while severe weather remains a serious threat, each storm also offers lessons that make the islands more prepared and more resilient.
She also highlighted the importance of Guam’s partnership with the Commonwealth, noting that the islands depend on one another’s resources and support during typhoons and other challenges. Speaking on behalf of the people of Guam, she said the goal of continued collaboration is to help leaders make sound decisions that protect communities across the region.
Apatang thanked Guam officials for including the CNMI in the event and praised federal and military partners, local agencies, nonprofit groups, utility crews, volunteers and residents who contributed to past recovery efforts.
He said preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins in homes, schools, workplaces and villages, urging residents to review emergency plans, build disaster supply kits, stay informed and check on neighbors who may need extra help.
He closed by calling on the people of Guam and the CNMI to carry forward lessons from past storms and continue working together to safeguard the islands…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN LEADERSHIP: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Australia urged to step up climate leadership on oceans
SYDNEY, 08 JUNE 2026 (AAP) — Australia is being urged to use its prominent international climate diplomacy role to show leadership on ocean health and fill a void left by the United States.
Ahead of mid-year climate talks in Germany, oceans expert Terry Garcia said the global community could not count on the US as a reliable partner and leader on ocean and climate policy in the next two-and-a-half years.
“If progress is to be made, others will have to shoulder the burden,” the former senior bureaucrat with the top U.S climate and weather agency said while delivering the Talbot Oration at the Australian Museum.
“In that regard, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region have the credibility, institutions and scientific capacity this moment urgently requires,” he said last Thursday in Sydney.
The Trump administration has withdrawn the U.S from the Paris Agreement and stripped funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where Garcia previously served as deputy administrator.
Deep-sea mining – involving mineral extraction from the ocean floor, where little is known about the environmental consequences – has also been fast-tracked by the US, including in international waters.
“These actions could have far-reaching consequences, measured in harm to reefs, coastlines, fisheries, and the well-being of people around the world,” Garcia said.
Australia was “perfectly positioned” to assert international leadership as president of negotiations at the upcoming United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) summit, he said, to be hosted by Turkey with pre-meetings in Pacific Island countries.
Australia’s Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will attend the annual mid-year meetings in Bonn, Germany, which typically lay the scientific and technical groundwork for the main event later in the year.
His Turkish counterpart, COP31 president Murat Kurum, will also lead discussions and sound out national priorities.
Clean energy and electrification have emerged as priorities for Bowen and Kurum, as the biggest oil shock in history sparks renewed focus on energy security.
Electric vehicle uptake in Australia has exploded since the Middle East conflict began, with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EVs making up more than 46 percent of all new cars sold in May.
International climate negotiations are also heating up as the World Meteorological Organisation ascribes an 80 percent chance of an El Nino forming in months, of at least moderate strength.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said El Nino conditions would “pour fuel on the fire of a warming world”.
In a wide-ranging speech on the perils facing marine landscapes, Garcia said ocean degradation and climate change were “inextricably intertwined”.
“Sea-surface temperatures have hit record highs,”” he said.
“And right now, we are living through the most widespread coral bleaching event ever recorded.
“My old agency, NOAA, has had to add three new alert levels to its coral bleaching scale – the equivalent of adding category six and seven to the hurricane scale, because the existing categories couldn’t capture what we were seeing,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Tikoduadua challenges NFP to win 15 seats in 2027
SUVA, 08 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — National Federation Party (NFP) president Pio Tikoduadua has challenged the party to target 15 seats in the 2027 General Election, warning that failure to continue growing should prompt serious reflection about its future direction.
Speaking during the party’s working committee meeting in Rakiraki on Saturday, Tikoduadua said the NFP needed to transform itself to remain relevant to voters and build on gains made in recent elections.
“This is now the challenge for us in 2027. I think NFP should be running for 15 seats. If we can’t, then we need to seriously relook at ourselves because we need to be seen to continue to grow,” he said.
Founded in 1963, the NFP is Fiji’s oldest political party and has experienced varying fortunes at the polls over the decades.
Tikoduadua, who is also the Minister for Defence, said the party had shown steady growth in recent elections but could not afford to become complacent.
“We’ve grown from 2014, and 2018, and 2022. We need to become better. We must create better versions of ourselves. That is what I’m asking of us today.”
He urged party members and committee representatives to focus on becoming more relevant to the communities they hoped to represent.
“Let me tell you, it’s not who we are or what we are. It’s how people perceive us to be,” he said.
“If they don’t feel their voices are heard here, then they will not come to us and vote.
“If they do not find their kind here — by kind, I mean youth, women, and people from all walks of life — they will not come here. So, this is the challenge to all of us today.”
Tikoduadua called on party members to take the party’s message directly to communities across the country.
“Let’s do our forefathers some justice. Let’s transform ourselves so that, by our example, people will want to come to us,” he said.
“We are the best that Fiji has right now. But it is sad if we are going to lose good people because politics is all about people. Politics is all about persuasion. That is the work we need to go out and do, said Tikoduadua…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – MONEY LAUNDERING: APGML PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Consultation open on oodel legislation for the Pacific region to gain new powers
RAROTONGA/SUVA, 08 JUNE 2026 (ASIA PACIFIC GROUP ON MONEY LAUNDERING) — A ground-breaking law reform project will give authorities across the Pacific stronger investigation powers and better tools to target criminal proceeds and assets, after model legislation was recently developed.
The model legislation, which is currently open for consultation, is part of the Model Legal Framework on Anti-Money Laundering and Criminal Asset Confiscation—a first of its kind designed for Pacific Island jurisdictions to create or update laws to meet revised international anti-money laundering standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Cook Islands is leading the way as the first jurisdiction to work with partners to tailor and implement the model legislation.
“The Cook Islands has worked closely with partners to develop the Model Legal Framework and looks forward to the next phase of implementing this Framework in the Cook Islands context,” co-Chair of the Cook Islands National Anti-Money Laundering Coordination Committee, Commissioner Cheryl McCarthy said.
The Framework, which has been developed by Lexbridge Lawyers and coordinated through the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), will allow the Pacific region to meet international standards set by the FATF.
“The Model Legislation is part of a wider package being developed for the Pacific Model Legal Framework, which will also include a range of practical implementation and guidance materials, and tailored training, to support jurisdictions in the effective uptake and use of the law” Lexbridge Partner and Project Coordinator, Dr Sarah McCosker said.
“A key feature of the Pacific Model Legal Framework is that it enables authorities to restrain and confiscate criminal assets even when no conviction is secured in court,” APG Executive Secretary, Dr Chris Black said.
“This means, instead of focusing solely on prosecuting criminals after crimes occur, law enforcement can also stop criminals by disrupting their finances.
“This Framework, specifically designed for small-to-medium-sized Pacific Island jurisdictions, is designed to help fight international crime, corruption, and money laundering.
“The Framework will improve cooperation between jurisdictions by making investigations and court processes more closely aligned and compatible.”
The development of the Model Legal Framework, funded by the Government of New Zealand, has followed a multi-stage process over the last two years, based on consultation with Pacific Island stakeholders, including engagement with multilateral fora such as the Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network, the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre, the Pacific Financial Intelligence Community, as well as the Asset Recovery interagency Network Asia Pacific.
Consultation on the Model Legislation closes on Friday 12 June 2026. More information on how to provide feedback during the consultation period can be found via
COOKS – FUEL STOCK: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Cook Islands govt’s new online dashboard confirms ‘stable’ fuel stocks
HONIARA, 08 JUNE 2028 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — A new online dashboard launched this week provides real-time updates on fuel stocks in the Cook Islands, indicating there is sufficient fuel until the next shipment and no need for panic-buying.
The Cook Islands government launched the dashboard to monitor fuel stocks as part of a coordinated response to global pressure caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The online dashboard gives households, businesses and the wider community a clear view of the country’s fuel position. It strengthens the monitoring of domestic fuel supplies as part of all-of-government response to ongoing global fuel supply pressures that is being coordinated by the Energy Response Technical Working Group (TWG), the Office of the Prime Minister says.
According to the dashboard, Aitutaki fuel supply remains stable.
“The community is asked to conserve energy and not buy more than they need,” it said.
As of Friday, local time, the dashboard, last updated on 28 May, shows that Aitutaki has 10 days of petrol remaining, though data for this week is incomplete. Meanwhile, supplies for diesel (41 days), LPG (19 days) and electricity (29 days) remain stable.
John Lockington, director of Spider Energy, said the island’s three fuel suppliers – Spider Energy, Aquila and TNM – have sufficient fuel and have experienced no shortages.
Despite the government statement indicating only a 10-day supply of petrol in Aitutaki, suppliers remain well-stocked, with one having received a full tanker on last week’s boat.
“There should be more than 10 days. And plus, there’s a boat next week Tuesday,” Lockington told Cook Islands News. “There’s obviously no shortage now, so that’s a good thing.”
“And I’m sure the other two (suppliers) are still pumping petrol, so obviously there’s no shortage there.”
Aitutaki experienced a severe petrol shortage in late April caused by panic buying amid broader global fuel pressures, leading to temporary pauses in public fuel sales and cancelled tourism activities. The situation eased following the arrival of stocks last month.
Lockington said everything was tracking well, with shipments expected next week and in two weeks.
For the rest of the Pa Enua (outer islands), Tongareva, Mauke, Mangaia, Pukapuka/Nassau and Palmerston had adequate stock.
Meanwhile, shipments are planned for Rakahanga (which received a partial delivery and is awaiting a data update), Atiu and Manihiki. Mitiaro’s shipment was delivered on 13 May, Mangaia’s shipment was due on 30 May.
For Rarotonga, the dashboard shows sufficient fuel stocks, with shipments for all fuels due to arrive as anticipated. It indicates there is no need to panic-buy, as 51 days of petrol, 57 days of diesel, 25 days of jet fuel and 44 days of power supply are available.
“There is no need to panic-buy – buying more than you need puts supply at risk for everyone,” the dashboard stated.
The dashboard will be updated weekly with the most up-to-date information available. These indicators act as an “early warning system”, supporting timely decision-making and helping Government take action where needed. They include fuel stock levels, shipment schedules, estimated days of supply remaining and infrastructure status.
Cook Islands is currently in the Amber phase of the National Energy Response Framework, which was approved by Cabinet this week.
“Monitoring fuel availability across the country is a critical part of this phase, as it ensures the Cook Islands remains prepared, informed, and able to respond quickly as global conditions evolve,” the OPM said. “The monitoring includes tracking how much fuel is available on each island, how quickly it is being used, and when future shipments are expected.”
Financial secretary Garth Henderson said strong monitoring and clear information are central to the Government’s response.
“Our approach is to stay ahead of the situation by having clear, reliable information on our fuel position across the country,” Henderson said.
“We are tracking supply, usage, and incoming shipments closely, and sharing that information to support coordinated decision-making across Government.”
“Importantly, our current supply position is stable, and shipments are continuing to arrive. We are in the Amber phase of the National Energy Response Framework, which means we have fuel and the most effective step every household and business can take is to use fuel wisely.
“Every litre saved helps extend our reserves and protect essential services.”
The Office of the Prime Minister said that energy conservation remains the most important tool available to households and businesses.
“Government is reinforcing that there is no need to panic-buy or stockpile fuel. Buying more than needed places unnecessary pressure on supply and affects the wider community,” the statement said.
“Government encourages practical fuel-saving measures including reducing unnecessary travel, consolidating trips where possible and limiting non-essential use.”
“Government will continue to share updates and work closely with suppliers, island administrations, and regional partners to support the Cook Islands through ongoing global fuel pressures, the statement added…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – FUEL STOCK: TALAMUA MEDIA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
No fuel shortage in Samoa and supply remains at comfortable levels
APIA, 08 JUNE 2026 (TALAMUA MEDIA) — Samoa’s Ministry of Finance has assured there is no fuel shortage in the country with no immediate threat to fuel availability.
The Ministry has encouraged members of the public to remain calm and use fuel responsibly.
The Ministry issued a statement in response to unnecessary public uncertainty after the Disaster Advisory Committee (DAC) told the media that Samoa is on amber alert given the disruption to global oil supplies of the war in the Middle East.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that fuel supply for Samoa remains at comfortable levels and that fuel reserves currently cover 50 days for diesel; 56 days for petrol; and 82 days for kerosene/Jet Fuel, following the arrival of the fuel tanker on 01 June 2026.
Additional shipments are scheduled to arrive in July, August and September of this year.
The Plan provides a whole-of-government emergency response framework and identifies three (3) escalation levels:
(1) Green Level – Normal / Monitoring. Fuel reserves above 30 days cover.
(2) Amber Level – Alert / Conservation. Fuel reserves between 15 – 30 days cover.
(3) Red Level – Emergency / Disruption. Fuel reserves below 15 days cover.
The Government has activated the Amber Level as a precautionary measure, but fuel supplies remain stable. Precautionary actions are activated by the Government to ensure efficient use of fuel.
This requires:
*ALL Government Ministries and Corporations must implement mandatory restrictions and conservation measures as outlined in the Plan.
*Launching of national awareness campaigns to promote fuel conservation across all households, businesses and communities
*Preparedness and readiness for further escalation to RED Level if and when warranted.
At the Press Conference, key sectors such as the Public Administration, Education, Health, Energy, and the Private and Business Sectors provided updates on their respective preparations and readiness measures…. PACNEWS
GUAM – POWER GRID: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Guam Power Authority seeks alternative fuel sources as Asia’s stocks run low
HAGATNA, 08 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The Guam Power Authority (GPA) is exploring the North American market as an alternative fuel source amid critically low stocks in Asia, where the agency purchases fossil fuels.
“Discussions remain ongoing and we are continuing to evaluate potential options,” GPA said.
GPA’s fuel oil supply is sourced from Hyundai Corp., which sources product from South Korea, and Mobil Oil Guam Inc., which purchases from Singapore, Asia’s oil hub.
According to Reuters’ recent report, oil product stocks in Singapore hit their lowest level in more than nine months following the U.S-Iran war, which disrupted the movement of crude and fuel products passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Citing data from Enterprise Singapore, Reuters reported that combined onshore oil product stocks totaled 44.83 million barrels in May, the lowest since late July 2025.
Industry experts cautioned that the trend is likely to continue, noting that 80 percent of the crude oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—largely blocked by Iran since February—is destined for Asian markets.
“GPA remains in close communication with Mobil regarding fuel supply conditions,” GPA said in response to the Pacific Island Times’ inquiry. “At this time, Mobil has not indicated any disruptions or impacts to its fuel supply from Singapore.”
Officials said GPA began sifting through fuel supply options beyond Asia, setting its sights on North America since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, which put global oil markets under strain earlier this year.
President Trump extended the temporary Jones Act waiver last month for another 90 days.
Initially set to expire on 17 May, the waiver now continues through August, authorising foreign-flagged vessels to move commodities between U.S. ports and opening the gates for Guam to access the domestic fuel market.
Guam has been locked out of U.S fuel products because shipping from the mainland requires larger vessels and longer routes, which makes a small island economy an impractical market for American suppliers.
The Public Utilities Commission has greenlighted GPA’s request to establish up to US$70-million line of credit as a temporary measure to facilitate continued purchases of fuel for power generation.
GPA has also petitioned the Consolidated Commission on Utilities for an increase in fuel recovery surcharge, from approximately 13.6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 19.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
GPA said its monthly fuel consumption has decreased by 76,000 barrels per month Ukudu 198-megawatt combined-cycle power plant began operating in December 2025.
The US$600 million facility, officially commissioned on 28 Ma, uses “advanced generation technology that captures and reuses heat generated during the production process, significantly improving fuel efficiency compared to older conventional fuel-oil generation systems,” GPA said.
Developed through a partnership with a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp and Korea East-West Power, the Ukudu plant facilitates GPA’s transition away from its aging legacy baseload infrastructure.
“This project is about reliability, resiliency and affordability on a sustained basis, which supports Guam’s energy roadmap for the future,” said John M. Benavente, GPA’s general manager.
“For years, GPA has worked to move away from an aging and increasingly vulnerable generation system. Ukudu Power Plant represents the foundation for the next generation of Guam’s power infrastructure,” he added…. PACNEWS
SOL – GOLD LICENCES: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 08 Jun 2026
Sogavare: PM Wale must stop misleading the country on gold dealer licences
HONIARA, 08 JUNE 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) — Solomon Island leader Opposition Manasseh Sogavare claims Prime Minister Mathew Wale has misled the public by announcing that licences for all gold dealers have been cancelled, when no lawful cancellation process appears to have been invoked.
Under the Mines and Minerals Act, a gold dealer’s licence is valid for one year and may be renewed on payment of the prescribed fee. The Minister may cancel a licence only if the holder is convicted of a relevant offence, or after a show-cause process for contravention of the Act, material breach of conditions, or insolvency-related events.
If that process has not been started, a public statement is not a substitute for the statutory process. As of today, 10 Gold Dealer Licences remain operational — none has been cancelled, no show-cause process has been invoked, and no evidence of statutory grounds for cancellation has been presented.
The Prime Minister therefore owes the country an explanation. Solomon Islanders deserve facts, not headlines. If the Government intends to reform the gold trading sector, it must do so lawfully, transparently and honestly.
The Opposition says this is not a minor slip of the tongue — it is a serious public misrepresentation affecting miners, dealers, investors, provincial stakeholders and public confidence in the administration of the law.
The Opposition Leader urged the Prime Minister to immediately correct the record and tell the nation:
*Which specific Gold Dealer Licences have been cancelled.
* On what date each cancellation took effect.
*What statutory ground was relied on in each case.
*Whether each licence holder was issued a show-cause notice as required by law.
*Whether any appeal rights have been triggered under the Act.
If the Prime Minister cannot provide those answers, he should withdraw his statement and apologise for misleading the public.
The Opposition supports genuine reform of the mining sector, but reform cannot be built on false announcements. The rule of law must come first…. 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
The David v Goliath battle playing out in Australia’s backyard
By Ben Bohane
PORT VILA, 08 JUNE 2026 (SMH) — South of Vanuatu, in the deep ocean teeming with fish and birdlife, lie two contested islands being fought over by Vanuatu (population 350,000) and France, which has the largest EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) in the world, totalling 11 million square kilometres.
Little wonder Vanuatu is framing this as a “David versus Goliath” fight. Vanuatu calls these islands by their ancient “kastom” (culture) names: Umaenupne and Umaeneg. On most maps, however, they are called by what British sea captains named them: Matthew and Hunter islands. France has controlled them since 1965.
France derives much prestige, wealth and a permanent UN Security Council seat thanks to its overseas territories and vast maritime domain, spread across multiple oceans. Now, some politicians and security analysts in France are worried that these two islands, taken from Vanuatu before its independence in 1980, could prompt sovereignty claims in other jurisdictions, from Mexico to Madagascar, if Matthew and Hunter are returned to Vanuatu.
Responding to a story in Le Figaro newspaper that discussed the possibility of the French President Emmanuel Macron ceding these islands as a “major symbolic turning point”, French far-right politician Marie Le Pen tweeted in December last year: “Let’s be clear: national sovereignty is not negotiable and cannot be surrendered. The French people do not expect Macron’s government to carve up our overseas territories, which are real levers of power, influence and economic development, behind their backs, but to give itself the means to protect and defend them.”
Rising in parliament this week, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat issued a response of sorts. He thundered that France was “dragging its feet” on negotiations following two postponements and was withholding relevant historical documents relating to France’s claim. Macron agreed to formal negotiations to resolve the issue during his 2023 visit to Vanuatu, saying it could be “resolved by Christmas”. He renewed this commitment in a meeting with Napat in July 2025. Years later,
Napat warned last month: “We will not take a passive approach. And we will not abandon our claim. We will defend our sovereignty with determination … We have carefully evaluated all of the legal options that are available to us. We are trying the diplomatic pathway, but we are also ready to change strategy as soon as is necessary.”
A rising tide of anger
The escalating rhetoric comes a week after diplomatic confrontations embroiling France, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
From our partners
A trade delegation from New Caledonia arrived in Port Vila earlier this month to boost economic ties but was quickly overshadowed by a diplomatic spat when one of the delegation, the new president of New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) movement, Christian Tein, met with Vanuatu’s PM Napat.
Vanuatu has long supported independence for its indigenous “Kanaky” neighbours, and meetings between Vanuatu and the FLNKS are quite routine. But when Tein affirmed to the Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper in a front-page splash that “Matthew and Hunter islands belong to Vanuatu”, then France’s ambassador weighed in on social media, and the New Caledonia government suspended all trade ties with Vanuatu.
Again, this is nothing new – indigenous Kanak chiefs have long recognised Vanuatu’s claims to Matthew and Hunter islands, declaring they had no kastom links to them and France should not have included them as part of New Caledonia, which France did in 1965.
In 2009, Vanuatu and Kanak chiefs signed the Keamu Accord, acknowledging that Matthew and Hunter belonged to Vanuatu.
Christian Tein, the leader of the pro-independence movement in New Caledonia, supports Vanuatu’s claim to Mattthew and Hunter islands.
France finds itself battling on three fronts in the Pacific at the moment: rising independence movements in New Caledonia, Tahiti (French Polynesia) and now an increasingly heated dispute with Vanuatu over Matthew and Hunter islands.
Vanuatu claims its southern islanders from Tanna, Aneityum and Futuna were regularly visiting these two disputed islands long before the first European got wet in the Pacific Ocean.
These islands weren’t of much interest to British and French ships navigating the seas of the 18th and 19th centuries due to their small size and remoteness.
Both are volcanic, but only Matthew remains an active volcano.
Matthew (Umaenupne) was first named by British sea captain Thomas Gilbert in 1788, in tribute to the owner of his ship. Gilbert would later bequeath his name to the Gilbert and Ellice islands which today form the nation of Kiribati.
Hunter (Umaeneg) island was named by British captain Thomas Fearn aboard his trading ship Hunter in 1798. It’s thought he also named it Hunter to honour Vice Admiral John Hunter, who was then the governor of NSW, the second after Arthur Phillip. Hunter Street in Sydney and the Hunter Valley are similarly named after him.
The Australian connection
The dispute over the islands primarily has its origins in the actions of another Australian, Bob Paul, who was a planter and aviation pioneer living on Tanna Island in the 1950s and 1960s, back when Vanuatu was known as the “condominium of the New Hebrides” and jointly administered by Britain and France.
Today, Bob Paul is well remembered by chiefs on Tanna, including Peter Marcel, president of the Nikolaten Council of Chiefs. He told me that “Bob Paul was the first to show us how to run a business, how to run trade stores and bring in tourists. He did a lot for our island”.
The dispute over the islands primarily has its origins in the actions of another Australian, Bob Paul, a planter and aviation pioneer living Vanuatu in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1962, Paul flew over Matthew and Hunter islands and, assessing from his map the two islands had not been claimed by anyone, he decided to claim them for himself and his flying friend Henri Martinet.
“It was a bit of a lark when he claimed them,” says Paul’s son Brett from his home in Queensland, who remembers an idyllic childhood growing up on Tanna. “But my father always believed the islands ultimately belong to Vanuatu.”
Paul and Martinet’s claim in 1962 prompted the British and French resident commissioners to make inquiries about who the islands belonged to. The British consulted their Foreign Office, Colonial Office and admiralty.
They also asked France and Australia. The French then conducted internal inquiries and concluded that the islands were part of New Caledonia. Britain was content with that view, and together they wrote to the Joint Court to advise that the islands belonged to New Caledonia.
Location, location: Why tiny island strongholds are so prized
Paul and Martinet’s claim was struck off. At no stage in the process were any Ni-Vanuatu people consulted, so the decision was made by European colonial powers before Vanuatu’s independence.
France’s claim to sovereignty over Matthew and Hunter islands has been recognised internationally ever since they were handed to the country in 1965. Vanuatu’s claim is rooted in kastom and its ancient connections to the islands, long before the first French sailor turned up on their shores.
Vanuatu enshrined their own sovereignty over the islands in legislation upon the declaration of its independence.
Many would also argue that any deal done by Britain and France in the colonial period, with no consultation of the indigenous population, is legally null and void today. While a European mindset focuses on the strategic and resource value of such islands, what they ignore is the kastom value of these islands to Vanuatu.
A sacred connection
Matthew and Hunter islands play a crucial role in the kastom and spiritual life of Vanuatu’s southern islanders. Indeed, these islands aren’t just “rocks in the sea” but the home of their god, Matjajiki.
Chiefs from Vanuatu’s southern islands claim that the two islands also contain ancient cemeteries where their ancestors elected to be buried close to Matjajiki, and that these cemeteries were taboo to visitors.
More importantly, chiefs say they need Matjajiki, the spirit who brings them food and fish.
Chief Peter Marcel says the disputed islands hold deep spiritual significance to the people of Vanuatu.
“Matjajiki works to bring life to our gardens for six months every year – he is our gardening spirit. After the annual yam harvest, he eats the first yam, drinks some kava and goes to rest for the rest of the year on Umaenupne and Umaeneg,” says chief Peter Marcel on Tanna.
“Without the power of Matjajiki, nothing would grow.”
While the islanders all identify as Christian, their veneration of ancestral spirits and the benevolent work of Matjajiki is at the heart of their identity.
Magic stones can still be found in their gardens, and rituals of thanks are still performed through the cycle of yam planting and harvesting. Matthew and Hunter are important places in the cosmology, and some even say that the survival of southern Vanuatu depends on them.
France’s possession of these islands has cut the ability of Ni-Vanuatu people to visit and pay respect to their god. When a boat carrying chiefs in 1983 to plant the Vanuatu flag and perform kastom rituals arrived at the two islands, they were intercepted by a French navy ship and forced to turn around.
No chiefs or ships from Vanuatu have been allowed since.
According to Tony Tevi, a geologist who is Vanuatu’s director of oceans and marine resources, geology and tectonic plates affirm Vanuatu’s ownership.
“Matthew and Hunter sit on the Pacific plate, not the Australian plate, which New Caledonia is on. Also, there are no volcanoes in New Caledonia, but plenty here in Vanuatu.”
For him, a further “insult” comes from France conducting military exercises on the islands every year, using a place reserved for the gods as target practice.
“The French military visit every year with their patrol boats to claim, ‘effective occupation’ and do their live firing exercises on the very place – the very place! – that for us in Vanuatu is one of the most sacred and important places. That is very unacceptable, said Tevi…. PACNEWS
Ben Bohane is Vanuatu-based journalist and policy analyst who has reported the Pacific for nearly 30 years.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Climate change: Vanuatu puts communities in the driver’s seat on loss and damage action
PORT VILA, 08 JUNE 2026 (OCHA) — A heavy decision has weighed on the people of Marou, a village in Emau Island — one of Vanuatu’s 83 islands in the South Pacific Ocean for some time.
Their village had been devastated by two consecutive Category 4 cyclones in 2023.
The ocean level is rising, and the water is getting warmer. Coral bleaching can no longer sustain their fisheries. Several Category 5 and 4 cyclones have crushed their efforts to adapt including planting mangroves and building embankments. Adaptation to climate change has failed them.
They are now set to become among the world’s first communities to have planned and developed their own relocation. Not to another country. Or another island. But to another location within their own communal land.
Last month, the Government of Vanuatu submitted a request, in support of Marou village’ relocation ambition, to the new Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). Also, another first in the world action.
“It is historic in that several households have already relocated, even with no external help…,” explained Christopher Bartlett, Special Climate Adviser to the Government of Vanuatu via email.
He added, “I believe it may represent the first instance of a village entirely relocating within their own custom land tenure boundary… That said, the process will be incredibly expensive, and painful.”
Building from the ground up
This involves “no nation-wide actions, no top-down technical solutions, the local people and systems now suffering loss and damage will need to define their own most appropriate reactions,” explained Bartlett.
This is the first component of Vanuatu’s application to the FRLD.
And what does this really look like?
It means making tough life transforming decisions at the very local level. Generations of people who have only known fishing have to adopt small scale poultry farming. It means recording and memorializing “what can never be recovered”, he wrote. For example, providing video and photography tools to elders to document the loss of coastal burial sites.
The FRLD only has US$250 million in its initial start-up programme, the Barbados Implementation Modalities, which will provide grants. And Vanuatu’s request is among the more than 10 received by the fund.
Role model for vulnerable communities
But Vanuatu is set to establish another first for Global South communities in the frontline of climate change. The grant will go directly to the communities who will implement the response. This is the second component of its application to FRLD.
“Most climate projects have a slew of middlemen who procure and often decide how local action proceeds. For loss and damage, and the reparative justice required, we have included at least four new modalities to place local responders in the driver seat on loss and damage action,” wrote Bartlett.
These include small grants to villagers for communal responses, cash transfers to households for family action, insurance for the most vulnerable, support for village savings and loan systems. These will be topped up by the Government through Vanuatu’s new Loss and Damage Fund, which currently has 1 million NZD, capitalized initially by the Government of New Zealand.
The third component of its application deals with learning. This includes a nationwide household survey on loss and damage that will help to develop a Register of Damages, which will form the basis of evidence-based loss and damage “litigation moving forward”, explained Bartlett.
This builds on Vanuatu’s General Assembly Resolution in May 2026 on the International Court of Justice, the UN’s principal judicial body, ruling in July 2025 that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions.
Anticipatory action
Many countries are also looking at helping their communities get ahead of disasters through anticipatory action.
Vanuatu has also built anticipatory action into their application to the FRLD, that is focused on community-based approaches.
For example, explained Bartlett, “small grants may support villages to implement their traditional early warning systems to alert communities before natural disasters (blowing conch shells, using traditional drums, and combining these through app-based alerts), providing pre-arranged financial resources, including micro-insurance, for immediate response actions.”
OCHA is supporting the Government of Vanuatu to develop a national anticipatory action framework for tropical cyclones, bringing partners together around shared priorities and building on each organisation’s comparative strengths…. 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
Mobile internet prices in PNG: stability amid infrastructure developments
By Amanda H A Watson, Hafford Norea, Loretta Dilu, Jonathan Zureo
PORT MORESBY, 08 JUNE 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —- This article reports on ongoing monitoring of mobile internet prices in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and shows that prices remained stable throughout 2025. This policy-relevant research is taking place amid significant communication infrastructure developments.
In December 2025, PNG’s acting communication minister announced an early Christmas gift for the country: three new undersea cables to be delivered not by Santa’s sleigh but as part of the Pukpuk Connectivity Initiative, an undertaking that sits within the broader bilateral context of the Pukpuk Treaty with Australia.
PNG already has three cables enabling internet connectivity: the Pipe Pacific Cable 1 from Guam, which landed in Madang in 2009; the Pukpuk1 cable from Jayapura, Indonesia, which connected Vanimo in 2020; and the Coral Sea Cable from Sydney to Port Moresby, which was officially launched in December 2019.
The Coral Sea Cable launch provided the initial impetus for our research into the pricing of mobile internet services for consumers in PNG. The research commenced in the first week of 2020.
Digicel’s internet prices were monitored every Monday in 2025. Prices fluctuated early in the year, remained constant for several months and then changed slightly again in mid-2025.
Digicel’s data bundle prices were unstable and unpredictable throughout the year. With strong network coverage and a widespread customer base, Digicel is a top player in the industry. However, users have no way of predicting when Digicel will change its prices or whether the service will remain affordable when it does. Keeping track of these fluctuations is vital, as it enables further discussion and improvement in the industry.
By contrast, there were no changes in Telikom’s data bundle prices throughout 2025. The one-day, three-day, seven-day and 30-day bundles all remained the same. While this stability is helpful for customers planning expenditure, it also means there were no improvements in affordability during the year. (Temporary promotions could have been offered in 2025 on days of the week other than Monday, thus eluding our data collection.)
Vodafone PNG also maintained consistent pricing for its one-day, three-day, seven-day and 30-day data bundles from January to December 2025, with no adjustments recorded during this interval. In January 2026, the company expanded its product portfolio by introducing a series of mid-range data bundles priced at K10 (US$2.28) for 6GB (valid for five days), K20(US$4.57) for 12GB (valid for 10 days) and K25 (US$5.72) for 15GB (valid for 14 days).
The introduction of the mid-range bundles coincided with the discontinuation of Vodafone’s previously popular “double data” promotion, which had offered customers twice the purchased data from Thursday to Saturday each week. This promotion formally ended on 31 December 2025, a change that prompted numerous customer queries and complaints on social media, including comments posted to the company’s official Facebook page. Vodafone retained its overnight promotion of 1GB for K1(US$0.22) (running from 10pm to 6am daily) and its “supa Sunday” promotion, which provides 2GB of data for K2 (US$0.45) for use by midnight on Sunday. The in-demand “double data” promotion was re-introduced in mid-April 2026.
In summary, mobile internet prices generally remained stable in PNG during 2025, although Digicel customers experienced fluctuations and unpredictability. Digicel’s pricing shifts affect the national picture, given the company’s size as a market actor. In some populated parts of PNG, Digicel is the only network available, leaving customers in such locations with limited choice.
While there is evidence that prices declined in 2019 and again when Vodafone entered the market, there were no notable changes in 2025. Digicel prices fluctuated but the other two providers kept their data bundle prices steady. The continued stability across Telikom and Vodafone suggests that competitive pressure did not intensify in 2025 and may indicate that the PNG mobile data market has entered a stabilisation phase following the disruption caused by Vodafone’s entry in 2022.
Starlink’s satellite internet service has now been issued a licence to operate in PNG. A court judgement handed down on 24 April 2026 at the PNG National Court cleared the way for the licensing process to progress. Prior to these developments, the regulator had stated that Starlink’s use in PNG was illegal, while businesses, bureaucrats and prominent citizens called for Starlink access.
In the first quarter of 2026, the regulator in PNG approved trials of OneWeb’s satellite communication services by four companies. Like Starlink, OneWeb operates a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. Starlink has far more satellites in orbit than any other company and offers direct-to-consumer services, whereas OneWeb is concentrated on offering services to businesses and telecommunication providers.
Our team will continue to monitor prices. If the three new undersea cables go ahead, we will attempt to ascertain whether they have any impact on retail internet pricing. We will also observe developments regarding satellite communications and their possible effects on prices…. PACNEWS
Dr Amanda H A Watson is a researcher with the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. Her research interests include information and communication technologies in the Pacific Islands region and the role of the media sector in Pacific Island countries.
Hafford Norea is a Research Officer with the Education Research Program at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute. He previously worked with the PNG Public Employees Association from 2020-2023.
Loretta Dilu is a lecturer in the Strategic Management Division in the School of Business and Public Policy at the University of Papua New Guinea. Loretta was a recipient of the Master of Economics and Public Policy Scholarship through the ANU-UPNG Partnership.
Jonathan Zureo is a Lecturer at the Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea. He teaches data communications and cyber security in the Information Systems Department and the Mathematics and Computing Science Department. His research interests lie in the cyber security domain of PNG and the Pacific.
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