Observers Call Pertashop's Business Concept Needs To Be Reorganized

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the ReferMiner Institute, Komaidi Notonegoro, assessed. the business concept for Pertashop still needs to be reorganized.

According to him, the policy for Pertashop which is only allowed to sell high-RON fuel is basically not in accordance with the target market segment.

"Pertashop is designed and aimed at expanding fuel access to areas that have not been reached by gas stations," said Komaidi in his statement to the media, Wednesday, July 12.

Therefore, continued Komaidi, Pertashop is generally more widely spread in rural areas and suburbs with lower income community profiles than urban communities.

Then, when Pertashop is only allowed to sell high RON fuel.

Meanwhile, at gas stations, there are lower RON fuel, so people who are targeted by the market have the potential to buy lower RON fuel at lower prices at gas stations.

"The presence of Perta botteng (ceran fuel seller) and Pertamina in the region and not even far from Pertashop location is the main cause of many Pertashops experiencing losses," continued Komaidi.

Komaidi said this was because Perta botteng and Pertamina could sell lower RON fuel that Pertashop could not do.

He added that the margin of fuel trading businesses such as Pertashop has generally been set at a certain value for each liter, therefore the sustainability of the fuel trading business, including the Pertashop business, will be determined by the amount of sales volume that can be done.

"The policy that only allows Pertashop to sell high RON fuel, while the business activities of "Perta botteng" and Pertamina are not disciplined will have an impact on the target of at least Pertashop sales not being achieved. As a result, operational costs cannot be covered and then losses," said Komaidi.

Komaidi also asked the government to reorganize the Pertashop business concept so as not to harm the parties, especially business people.

"Don't let the goal of expanding fuel access, which is basically very good because it can become a catalyst for national economic growth, become counterproductive and burdensome for business people who have invested in the Pertashop business," concluded Komaidi.

Previously, in an audience with Commission VII DPR RI, the General Chairperson of the Central Java Pertashop Entrepreneurs Association-Specific Region of Yogyakarta (Central Java-DIY) Gunadi Broto Sudarmo complained about the losses suffered by Pertashop owners and entrepreneurs.

Based on the data held, of the 448 Pertashop, 201 of them suffered losses and were in danger of being closed and their assets confiscated because they were unable to pay monthly installments to the bank concerned.

He explained, at the end of 2022 the number of Pertashop with sales of less than 200 liters per day reached 47 percent and suffered losses.

Gunadi explained, if sales only reach 200 liters per day then per month one Pertashop is only able to sell 6,000 liters.

"With a margin of IDR 850, Pertashop's gross profit is only IDR 5.1 million, while there is a salary requirement for operators of IDR 4 million for two people, BPJS contributions, and so on," said Gunadi.