Alluding To The Misuse Of Subsidized Fuel, Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources: Those Who Can Afford Don't Take Part In Consumption, Report If There Is A Queue

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif made a surprise inspection of gas stations in Bengkulu City. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif mentioned the importance of supervision and the role of the entire community regarding the distribution of fuel oil (BBM), especially subsidized.

He also asked the public to be more proactive in the event of misuse of subsidized fuel in the field.

"We ask for help from all (people) here to report if there is a queue and remind them that the actual allocation of subsidized fuel is. Meanwhile, people who can afford not to consume it," said Arifin when conducting a surprise inspection at a gas station in Bengkulu City, quoted by Antara, Sunday. April 10.

While in Bengkulu, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources inspected three gas stations. This inspection to Bengkulu is a continuation of the direct monitoring and supervision of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the five gas stations in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, and four gas stations in South Kalimantan on Thursday 7 April, and four gas stations in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday 9 April.

In his statement in Jakarta, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources said that regarding the supervision of subsidized fuel, the government will take firm steps, especially industrial operational vehicles.

"From the center, we will make a warning letter so that the industry uses fuel according to its designation," he added.

Likewise, for industries under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin will take firm action if he finds any mining operational vehicles that use subsidized diesel.

"We will take steps, first to remind, then monitor, and if there are still deviations, we will take firm action," he said.

Not only that, but Arifin also highlighted the fraudulent practice of modifying the tank capacity of vehicles which played a major role in the occurrence of diesel fuel shortages. To that end, he promised to evaluate the current system and infrastructure.

"It has to be seen that vehicles that consume fuel are correct or not, many examples of six-wheeled trucks should have a tank filled with 120 liters, modified to 400 liters, this is not true," said Arifin.

Moreover, it is not used for its designation, so there are many stalls outside of the gas station that is not official.

In the future, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will evaluate the system and infrastructure.

"We will perfect it. This takes effort, but what is important now is how we can secure it first, because we are faced with a crisis situation in securing our energy supply, because there is a geopolitical conflict," he said.