The Disaster Advisory Committee has put the nation on an amber alert regarding the fuel crisis, citing the move as a precautionary measure despite fuel reserves and fuel supply being stable.
The DAC Secretariat, led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, announced on Thursday.
However, the move to amber alert and the claims that fuel supply remains normal contradict the recommendations from the DAC given to the cabinet, which was approved in the Cabinet FK 26(16).
In the recommendations titled National Fuel Supply Emergency Response Plan and signed by Lealaisalanoa, the indicators for moving to an amber alert are that fuel supply is within 15 to 30 days, there is identified or potential tanker delay, there is increasing pressure on fuel distribution systems and early signs of supply constraints or fuel queues.
According to the document approved by the cabinet, an amber alert would lead to power shedding and the school week being cut short and reverting to online studies. According to the recommendations, government ministries would also look at work from home, and the move would be extended to the private sector.
