Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif: 100 More Gas Stations Are Needed To Make One-price Fuel A Reality

Illustration. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif said that in order to realize the target of 583 gas stations distributing fuel oil (BBM) at one price until 2024, an additional 100 gas stations distribution stations per year are needed.

"So 80 to 100 points per year are still needed, this requires hard efforts and of course with the challenge of distribution that is not easy to the frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) areas," he said in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, quoted from Antara, Friday September 17th.

This was said by Arifin in the simultaneous inauguration of 17 single-price fuel points centered at gas stations 56,83515, Aik Bukaq Village, North Batukliang District, Central Lombok, NTB.

Attending the event were Head of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH), Erika Retnowati, Director of Logistics and Infrastructure of PT Pertamina (Persero) Mulyono, President Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga Alfian Nasution, and NTB Governor H Zulkieflimansyah.

According to Arifin, the challenge to realize the energy of justice is still quite big.

"But it must be done because this is a noble intention and task, how people in the 3T region can enjoy equality and quality fuel at affordable prices. This is a manifestation of the 5th precept of Pancasila," he said.

Head of BPH Migas Erika Retnowati said that according to the mandate in the legislation, her party has the task of regulating and supervising the implementation of the supply and distribution of fuel and natural gas transportation throughout Indonesia.

BPH Migas also has the responsibility to ensure and guarantee the distribution of energy, especially the availability of affordable fuel in all corners of the country. He said that the roadmap until 2024 is the realization of 583 one-price fuel distribution agencies.

In June 2021, simultaneously 27 one-price fuel points were inaugurated in Pontianak. This time, 17 points of distribution agencies have been inaugurated, bringing a total of 44 fuel points, one price has been built from the target of 76 distributors in 2021.

A total of 17 fuel points of one price were inaugurated, including in Aceh, Riau, South Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, two in Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, seven in West Kalimantan, West Papua, and two in Papua.

The total number of one-price fuel distribution agencies that have officially operated as many as 293 gas stations managed by Pertamina. All of them are spread over 112 districts in Indonesia, 62 of which are in the 3T region.

"We hope that Pertamina can accelerate the development of a one-price fuel distribution agency so that our common target can be achieved," said Erika.