Experts Call The Blending BBM Process A Sah And Lazim Activities

JAKARTA - The determination of a technical vendor as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of fuel processing and distribution by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) raises big questions in the public. Energy experts assess that the fuel blending process is a legal and common processing activity to improve fuel quality.

Energy Economy Observer from Padjadjaran University (Unpad) Bandung, Yayan Satyakti, emphasized that according to the rules, the blending scheme is very clear and legal. He said, in terms of corporations, Pertamina would not abuse the authority in the process.

"Pertamina's rules are usually rarely misused. For fuel blending, the process at Pertamina is also very clear," he said, Friday, April 18.

Article 10 Paragraph (1) of Law 22/2001 concerning Oil and Gas (UU Migas) regulates that processing is carried out to improve quality and/or adjust the results of the process to market needs. The derivative rules are Government Regulation (PP) 36/2004 jo. PP 30/2009 concerning Downstream Oil and Gas Business Activities.

Yayan added that blending was carried out on the basis of strong technical goals and legality. According to him, vendor companies cannot immediately become scapegoats because the entire process has gone through a detailed and transparent stage.

"That's a fairly strict procurement system for vendors. ESDM also regulates the conditions, then there is an audit, and also the supervision of SPI. I think, with such a complex process, there should be no irregularities," he explained.

Yayan assessed that investigations should target a more comprehensive process, including the procurement of crude oil imports which have been suspected of being a field for the game of oil and gas mafias.

"Don't just target downstream. It must be more transparent, including in the surveillance system in the upstream sector. Institutions there must be strengthened," he said.

Until now, the AGO has named a number of suspects, including the initials MR, AW, and IY from the private sector, as well as several legal officers and technical vendors. Some of the suspects are known to only act as executors without the authority to make decisions.

The AGO also emphasized that the investigation was not aimed at fuel blending activities.

"Don't think that it's as if the oil used now is mixed oil. Well, that's not right," said the Head of the AGO, Harli Siregar, Wednesday, February 26.