The Joys Of Being A Resident Of Jakarta, Distribution Of Cooking Oil Twice A Week So It's Not Rare

A number of police personnel help traders sell cooking oil to residents during the Cheap Cooking Oil Market Operation in Serang Square, Banten (ANTARA PHOTO/ASEP FATHULRAHMAN)

JAKARTA - The distribution of cooking oil in Jakarta will be carried out twice a week to overcome the shortage of this commodity in recent times.

"It has been confirmed that they will be sent twice a week. So, Jakartans don't have to worry. The minister of trade and staff will also ensure that the prices are affordable," said Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria at Jakarta City Hall, Wednesday, March 9.

He explained that the certainty of the delivery of the cooking oil was not only to ensure the supply of commodities, but also to come at a price in accordance with the highest retail price limit (HET), which was Rp. 14,000 per liter.

Reporting from Antara, Riza explained that the availability and affordability of cooking oil prices in Jakarta had previously been coordinated with the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).

Previously, the Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi said that there was a leak of cheap cooking oil resulting from the domestic market obligation (DMO) at the distributor level, causing prices to be held high until this week.

The distribution leak, said Lutfi, was caused by part of the low-priced cooking oil being channeled to industry and smuggled abroad following the relatively high international price compared to the domestic selling price.

According to him, distribution leaks also occur in distribution channels at the D1 and D2 levels because there are still a number of speculators in the country holding back supplies while waiting for the government to revoke the policy of the highest retail price or HET for cooking oil from the DMO.

"There are those who hoard in D1 and D2 and then sell them in the industry and smuggle them abroad because they buy cheap, there is speculation that this HET will be revoked. I emphasize that there are no plans or thoughts to revoke this HET," said Lutfi at Pasar Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta.

The Ministry of Trade reports that the cheap cooking oil resulting from the DMO policy has reached 415 million liters since its implementation on February 14, 2022.

This means that the availability of cheap cooking oil can meet the needs of the community for the next 1.5 months.