The Weather Has Not Improved, Pertalite And Biosolar Delivery To Karimunjawa Is Still Postponed

The PT Pertamina ship was prepared in Semarang waiting for the weather to improve. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Pertamina)

PT Pertamina has not been able to send Pertalite or Biosolar fuel supplies to Karimunjawa Island, Karimunjawa District, Jepara Regency, Central Java, following the unfavorable weather due to high waves.

"The plan is for Pertalite which we want to send as many as 40 kiloliters and Biosolar as much as 95 kiloliters," said Area Manager Communication, Relations, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the Central Java Regional, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Brasto Galih Nugroho, quoted by Antara, Thursday, December 29. In fact, he said, the ship was already loading both types of fuel and ready to sail from Semarang to Karimunjawa gas stations. "Of course we continue to monitor and monitor the bad weather conditions and high waves in the Java Sea," he added, PT Pertamina also always coordinates with related agencies regarding weather conditions and sailing permits while still prioritizing sailing safety. He admitted that the stock of Pertalite and Biosolar is indeed running low. Meanwhile, for Dexlite stocks at Karimunjawa gas stations, 2.6 kiloliters were monitored.

Pertalite demand in Karimunjawa every day is 1,900 liters, while diesel as much as 3,800 liters and Dexlite as much as 37 liters per day. Karimunjawa residents themselves feel that Pertalite's stock has been running low since Thursday, December 23, while Sunday, December 26, has completely run out. Meanwhile, people's mobility depends on other types of fuel stocks, such as Dexlite and residents who still have Pertalite stock in vehicles, can still carry out daily activities. The end of Pertalite's stock in Karimunjawa District, due to entering the westerly season which is marked by high waves at sea. Such conditions, result in the termination of all activities at sea because it is not safe. In fact, crossing activities to Karimunjawa Island began to stop since December 23, 2022 because sea weather was not supportive. As a result, hundreds of tourists were stuck on the outermost island in Jepara Regency and could only be delivered with the help of KM Kelimutu on Tuesday evening, December 27.

Based on the weather forecast from BMKG, the waters of the southern sea of Central Java today still experience high waves.