Suspicious Of Sales To Industry Reducing Supply, Commission VI Asks The Government To Take Strict Action On Large Trucks Buying Subsidized Solar

JAKARTA - The existence of diesel fuel is starting to be questioned. Even though PT Pertamina (Persero) is reported to have increased the amount of supply.

In fact, at several gas stations, there are long queues of vehicles that will buy diesel.

Responding to this condition, Member of Commission VI DPR RI Nevi Zuairina urged the government to take firm action against large trucks that buy subsidized diesel.

Furthermore, he added, the price disparity between subsidized diesel and non-subsidized diesel is very wide. Initially, diesel dexlite was sold for Rp. 9,700 per liter in January 2022 and increased to Rp. 12,400 per liter, in February and March it rose again to Rp. 13,250 per liter.

This encourages vehicle owners to switch to buying subsidized diesel, which is relatively cheap at IDR 5,150 per liter.

One of Nevi's concerns is in the area of West Sumatra. Nevi said that the supply of diesel in this area had exceeded the quota, but strangely there was still a queue of vehicles at the gas station.

"Law enforcement officials have acted decisively, but they need to be strengthened because mining and industrial trucks are suspected of still buying subsidized diesel. They should receive subsidies for 6-wheeled vehicles and below," said Nevi in a written statement quoted on April 5.

He conveyed this because there are indications that diesel sales to the industry are not able to meet the demand for diesel for vehicles.

In fact, according to him, the distribution of food logistics is very dependent on diesel fuel so that it will facilitate the distribution of food with relatively similar prices between production and consumption centers. He suggested that the regional government and all stakeholders should intervene to enforce the rules so that they are more stringent in selecting subsidized diesel purchases.

Nevi stressed that the government should make clearer rules regarding restrictions on vehicles using subsidized diesel. So changing the diesel compensation mechanism into a full subsidy is an urgent thing to do.

"This has entered the month of Ramadan, meaning that food needs in the community are increasing, so the government must guarantee diesel fuel for food distribution. We at Commission VI agreed that the government can ensure the availability of fuel during Ramadan and Eid in 2022. The queues will disappear if large trucks that are not entitled to buy subsidized diesel are arrested, such as the completion of long queues of diesel buyers in Kalimantan," concluded Nevi.