Cabinet minister Shane Jones is putting pressure on fuel companies to share more information about their shipments, warning that the government could force them to do so via regulation if necessary.
The country's fuel stocks have dropped in the past two updates, but officials said there was no need for alarm. The Taxpayers' Union, however, called for more frequent updates and more comprehensive data.
Speaking to Morning Report, Jones - who's associate energy minister - said the government relied on the oil companies to regularly provide high quality information and had the ability to regulate if that was not forthcoming.
"I've no doubt early next week, we will address this issue and update whether or not there's further information that they can provide and any reluctance to provide it... we'll move forward with alacrity."
Officials would report on whether extra powers were needed to secure that information, Jones said.
"We have not been told to date that is absolutely necessary, but this is fair warning."
RNZ has sought a response from Z Energy, BP and Mobil. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has also been approached for comment.
Coping with 'fuel fiasco'
Jones said his "zest" for more information was driven by rising levels of uncertainty in the business community.
He acknowledged the fuel companies were dealing with massive logistical changes and operating in a competitive market, but he said the fuel crisis trumped any "minor confidentiality matters".
"The fuel companies are nervous that their confidentiality of what they've got on the water, the names of the ships, the quantities, may be compromised, but we're in the midst of a fuel fiasco," he said.
"The fuel companies have line of sight, and we want to get as much certainty as possible."
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters the government had had "very good engagement" with fuel importers from day one.
"They are sharing a lot of commercially sensitive information to us that's giving us a very good visibility over the picture."
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
