Police Appreciation For Successfully Revealing Subsidized Fuel Misappropriation, Pertamina: A Form Of Saving Community Rights

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina appreciates the steps taken by the National Police in an effort to channel energy on target by successfully uncovering a number of abuses of Subsidized Fuel Oil (BBM) in several regions in Indonesia.

Pertamina reported that throughout 2022, the National Police managed to secure 38 cases of misuse of subsidized fuel, especially the type of subsidized diesel spread in the northern Sumatra, southern Sumatra, western Java, Central Java, Jatimbalinus, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Maluku-Papua areas.

Pertamina Corporate Communication Vice President Fajriyah Usman said the steps taken by the National Police were a form of saving the rights of the underprivileged to obtain subsidized fuel.

"Thank you to the Police for taking action against the perpetrators of the misuse of subsidized fuel. This is a form of saving the rights of the underprivileged to get subsidized fuel so that the distribution of this fuel can be right on target," said Fajriyah in her statement to the media, Friday, April 22.

Fajriyah said that the Police continued to carry out surveillance throughout the region to ensure that subsidized fuel was used properly by those who were entitled to it. Therefore, any misuse of subsidized fuel is a criminal act against the law and the perpetrators will face law enforcement officers.

“In the subsidized fuel, the state budget flows, which we must control so that it is not distorted. Pertamina really appreciates the Police who continue to aggressively eradicate every form of fraud," said Fajriyah.

Fajriyah said that according to information gathered from the National Police, the perpetrators of the misuse of subsidized fuel were carried out in various modes. These include repeated refilling by sledding cars or trucks with modified tanks, purchases of jerry cans by retailers, purchases by mining trucks or unloaded excavations, purchases by mining trucks, purchases by oil palm trucks and purchases of diesel fuel through third parties.

The high disparity in the price of subsidized diesel which is sold for Rp. 5,150 per liter with non-subsidized (industrial) diesel which is sold according to economic prices is suspected to be the trigger for the various modes of abuse. Close supervision and coordination with the police continues.

"Pertamina will continue to synergize with the National Police to oversee the distribution of subsidized fuel so that it is not misused by irresponsible persons. Strict action will be taken against anyone who commits fraud," said Fajriyah.

In addition to coordinating with the apparatus, Pertamina is also implementing the digitization of gas stations to monitor the distribution of subsidized fuel to make it more targeted and install CCTV in all gas stations.