Bahlil Asks Gas Stations For Disaster-affected Areas To Operate 24 Hours

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia asked gas stations in areas affected by flash floods to operate for 24 hours.

This is one of the government's efforts to restore the supply and distribution of fuel oil (BBM) for disaster-affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

In addition to increasing supply, the Government has also freed the use of barcodes.

"I just finished a meeting with the President Director of PT Pertamina, starting tomorrow for all gas stations here we will open 24 hours for the area of Mr. and Mrs. all. We will serve the needs of the community 24 hours. We will also add generators so that they can serve my brothers and sisters who need fuel here," Bahlil said in a statement to the media, Wednesday, December 3.

Bahlil also apologized for the service that had not been maximally post-disaster.

"We apologize if after the disaster, our services are not maximized, we together with the Governor and Regent try to serve all of you so that you can get good service," he continued.

Even so, Bahlil made full efforts to optimize fuel services to the community. He specifically asked PT Pertamina Patra Niaga to reorganize the stock and distribution of fuel traffic in Medan and its surroundings, which currently has 90 Public Fuel Filling Stations (SPBU) to resume full operation for 24 hours.

"As a result of the meeting, we will add 24 hours of operation. We will operate approximately 60 SBPU 24 hours. We will add more, we will see if it can operate for 90 SBPU 24 hours," explained the President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Mars Ega Legowo Putra.

According to Ega, fuel in the Medan area and its surroundings is relatively safe because it has successfully landed 2 ships to dock in those supplied from the Medan BBM Terminal (TBBM).

"To reduce queues, we will add SBPU which operates 24 hours so approximately 60 SBPU," said Ega.

Another policy support from the government is to provide relaxation to PT Pertamina Patra Niaga to move the allocation of fuel between districts/cities in the same province.

This step is necessary because changes in the vehicle lane from what originally passed the main road now have to go through an alternative route, causing a shift in fuel consumption to the road that can still be passed.

With the addition of 24-hour operations and adjustment of allocations, the government hopes that the distribution of fuel can be smooth again and the needs of the people in the affected areas will be met soon.