The opening of a new Government bowser at Tuanaimato means their fleet of vehicles no longer have to rely on a privately-owned petrol station to refill.

The SAT$3 million facility is located opposite the Fire Emergency Service and Authority (F.E.S.A.) Faleata station and comprise 1 acre of land, four dispensers, a tank shelter and an office building.  

Outgoing Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo delivered the keynote address at the official opening on Tuesday, saying it has been in the pipeline for many years and cost $3 million.

The SAT$3 million price tag covered the existing facility, underground tanks that can store 25,000 litres of diesel as well as 15,000 litres of petroleum.  

The petrol station is built on half an acre and the Minister pointed out the other vacant half will be used to build a transport sector base that will be convenient to refuel government-owned vehicles during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year. 

Mulipola acknowledged the privately-owned Pesega Service Station and T & N Toleafoa that provided the service for the Government's fleet of vehicles for the past few years.

She said there was an assessment on a different area to construct the Government bowser but the area was categorised as unsafe due to the presence of heavy electrical lines.

As a result, the Government purchased the already-constructed petrol station which was built by a Chinese businessman.

Mulipola said the petrol station will service the Government ministries fleet and there are plans to also have State-owned enterprises vehicles refill at the station. 

She said the new petrol station will no doubt save public funds, which would have otherwise gone to leasing other privately owned petrol stations. 

Looking into the future, the Minister said the location of the new petrol pump station is also safe in the event of a natural disaster affecting the nation. 

Mulipola and the incoming Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the station.