People Complain That Fuel Often Runs Out, Pertamina: Safe And Unrestricted Stock, Is On Its Way

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - People have been complaining about the availability of Pertalite type of fuel oil (BBM) which often runs out at Public Fuel Filling Stations (SPBU). Responding to this complaint, Pertamina Patra Niaga's Corporate Secretary, Irto Ginting, denied the news regarding the possible shortage of Pertalite.

According to him, the vacancy was caused by fuel which was in the process of being distributed to gas stations. He also dismissed the news of limiting the pertalite quota to gas stations.

"There are no restrictions (Pertalite). The vacancy is because fuel is on its way," he told VOI, Thursday, August 11.

Irto emphasized that the availability of Pertalite is guaranteed to be safe because it is at the level of around 18 days and is still producing. "Today, Pertalite's stock is at the level of 18.3 days, and continues to produce," said Irto.

The same thing was conveyed by Member of the Committee for the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) Saleh Abdurrahman. According to him, there are different understandings regarding the availability of fuel, namely scarcity and queues. To measure fuel security data in general, he said, it must first be seen from the side of the terminal stock owned by Pertamina.

"For now I see it as a condition where there could be transportation or delivery disruptions in the area or one thing or another," he told the media.

In ensuring that energy subsidies can be channeled on target, Pertamina Patra Niaga is waiting for the revision of Presidential Regulation no. 191/2014 regarding the provision of subsidies and the Decree (SK) of the Head of BPH Migas No. 04/P3JBT/BPH Migas/KOM/2020.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif targeted the revision of Presidential Regulation No. 191 of 2014 to be completed in August 2022.

The regulation also regulates the rules for purchasing subsidized fuel pertalite type. Currently, permission for the initiative to revise the rules for purchasing subsidized fuel aka Perpres 191/2014 has been obtained.