BPH Migas Supports Smooth Supply Of Sea Transportation Fuel During Christmas And New Year

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) supports the smooth supply and distribution of fuel oil (BBM) services for sea transportation modes during the Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 periods.

For this reason, two members of the BPH Migas Committee, namely Saleh Abdurrahman and Eman Salman Arief, visited Merak, Banten, and Bakauheni Port, Lampung, which is managed by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), Tuesday 26 December.

"The management of Merak and Bakauheni Ports is very good. In terms of fuel supply, there are no obstacles, everything is running smoothly. It needs to be considered so that operational reserve facilities at Merak Port are improved," said Saleh in the release of BPH Migas, quoted from Antara, Thursday, December 28.

He hopes that the coverage day of fuel availability at Merak Port can be added.

"The ship, which is the main means of transporting sea transportation, must have fuel available. Therefore, its availability plays a very important role. Moreover, Merak Port is the largest ferry port in Indonesia, which if there is a disturbance, the impact is very large," said Saleh.

Eman also ensured that the supply and distribution of fuel during the new Christmas years at Merak and Bakauheni ports were in a safe and smooth condition.

"According to the results of monitoring and discussion, ASDP has prepared it well, in terms of fuel and human resources. This is a good synergy between the energy sector and the transportation sector," he said.

The peak of the new Christmas-year homecoming flow at Merak Port occurred on December 24, 2023 and the backflow is estimated to be between January 2-4, 2024.

BPH Migas continues to monitor the availability of fuel during the new Christmas-years for land, sea, and air transportation to run smoothly.

"We believe that during this new Christmas period, the supply and distribution of fuel will run well. We pray that all people who use this ferry ship can feel happiness and of course they are in good health," said Eman.

Meanwhile, GM ASDP Bakauheni Rudi Sunarko said that the supply of fuel during the new Christmas years did not experience any problems, so his party was able to serve the number of passengers, which increased by 30 percent compared to 2022 and for fuel needs, an increase of around 5 percent.

ASDP also appreciated the support of various parties so that sea transportation activities at the port could run smoothly.

"All of this is thanks to the support of various parties, especially BPH Migas and PT Pertamina in the distribution of fuel. Our operations have so far been running smoothly, safely, orderly and under control," said Rudi.

Business Manager Aneka Jasa and Cooperation ASDP Bakauheni Eko Yulianto added that to anticipate disturbances in the distribution of fuel, his party together with Pertamina have prepared a scenario to support the distribution of fuel to the port.

"We have prepared all scenarios for the smooth delivery of fuel to the position at the port fuel terminal. Furthermore, we distribute it to ships according to the needs that have been determined, thus providing guarantees that our operational activities run smoothly and safely," said Eko, who was accompanied by the captain of the KMP Sebuku Dwi ship.

Merak Port has 63 ships operating, namely six executive ships and the rest regular ships.

The ship's capacity at Christmas 2023 and New Year's 2024 were able to load 32,584 small vehicles, an increase of 10 percent compared to the previous year. During a visit to Lampung, BPH Migas also monitors 49A gas stations on the Lampung toll road.

The supply and distribution of fuel at the gas station was observed to be going well and there were no queues. As a mitigation effort, Pertamina has prepared mobile storage, as well as motorists to anticipate an increase in fuel consumption.

Present at the event, SAM PT Pertamina Patra Niaga in the Lampung area Bagus Handoko; SBM Bandar Lampung, South Lampung, and Pesawaran Parrama Ramadhan Amyjaya; SBM Metro, Central Lampung, and East Lampung Risal Arsyad; as well as SBM West Lampung, Pesisir Barat, and Tanggamus Reza.