20 Feb 2015

Fears over Cooks fuel piped over reef

7:14 am on 20 February 2015

A Cook Islands fuel supplier is campaigning over plans by an overseas company to provide fuel for Rarotonga by a long hose from a ship moored beyond the reef.

Triad Pacific Petroleum says the proposal from Petrocean is environmentally too risky and could wreck the tourism-based economy.

Petrocean says its plan will mean cheaper fuel for consumers.

The National Environmental Service's Vavia Tangatataia says an Environmental Impact Assessment report is now out for public consultation but they are yet to receive any public submissions on the proposal.

But Triad Pacific Petroleum's director Chris Vaile says it has been making its objections plain through advertising.

The Cook Islands News reports him, saying an oil spill could cost the country its number one source of income, the tourism industry.

And he points out the gain from the deal would only be a 10 cent per litre reduction in the price of fuel for consumers.