November 22, 2013 [Solomon Star News] - Choiseul Bay Association (CBA) and Humphrey Engineering Limited yesterday opened a $3.4 million fuel storage and distribution business at Butuburu island, Choiseul. It is called Emerald Oil Limited, which would compete against two main fuel suppliers in the country, Markwarth and South Pacific Oil in Honiara.
The facility consists of two tanks, drum filling shade, office, and floating wharf, which took about seven months for local constructors to complete. Chairman of CBA, Judah Kulabule, said it’s a miracle to come this far after they have experienced a lot of problems in the past.
Director of Humphrey Engineering Ltd, Humphrey Tura, said the business aims to assist the province from buying drums in Honiara, but to have it at their doorstep in order to drive economic growth. He said even though they can’t control the prize of fuel because the country’s economic scale is small, they can manage it.
Mr Tura said the fuel storage has met international requirement under International Safety Guideline Oil Tanker Terminal (ISGOTT) to supply fuels to ships and other customers.
Mr Tura said they will import fuel from an overseas suppliers, which they have already established links with. Choiseul Premier, Jackson Kiole said this is a very important investment which would provide a reliable source of fuel to the rural areas.
