Fuel scarcity affects nation<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the country braces for more street protests and panic buying
\nahead of the fuel price increase on Oct. 1, the fuel scarcity has
\ncreated long lines on Wednesday at filling stations and kerosene
\ndistributors nationwide.<\/p>\n
In Bandarlampung, the increased price of kerosene from Rp 800
\nto Rp 2,000 per liter made the three-day wait for the fuel --
\nwhich the nation's poorest people use for cooking -- all the more
\nfrustrating. Moreover, a purchase of five liters was the most a
\nfamily could hope for. Several small-scale industries have
\nreportedly switched from using kerosene to diesel fuel.<\/p>\n
In some areas, like Way Kanan regency, the price of kerosene
\nhad surpassed that of Premium gasoline at Rp 3,000 per liter.<\/p>\n
Ruslan, a kerosene agent in Bandarlampung, said he let
\ncustomers deposit their empty containers with him out of pity.<\/p>\n
He said he usually received 5,000 liters of kerosene every
\nthree days but, over the last month, he received it once a week.<\/p>\n
\"Now we only get the supply once a week, on Saturdays, so it's
\nnot enough for all residents,\" said Ruslan.<\/p>\n
In Harapanjaya subdistrict, a 200-liter supply of kerosene
\nwas quickly sold. \"Once the kerosene supply arrives, customers
\nstorm in and it's gone within an hour,\" said Husin, the trader.<\/p>\n
In Lempasing, South Lampung, residents pitted against
\nfishermen who are now powering their boats with kerosene, while
\nin Kotakarang subdistrict in Bandarlampung, kerosene was hard to
\ncome by as retailers preferred to sell it to fishermen at higher
\nprices.<\/p>\n
Head of state oil company Pertamina in Lampung, Amilin Ali,
\nblamed the kerosene scarcity on panic buying ahead of the
\nimminent fuel price increases.<\/p>\n
Currently, he said, the company had a three-day supply of
\n2,700 kiloliters of Premium gasoline, 4,400 kiloliters of
\nkerosene for six days and 17,400 kiloliters of diesel oil for 11
\ndays. \"Although the supply is counted on a daily basis, two
\ntankers provide a fresh fuel supply everyday,\" Amilin said.<\/p>\n
Long queues were observed at gas stations across the country,
\nincluding in Semarang, Surakarta and its surrounding cities like
\nSalatiga and Magelang, as many motorists had to wait for hours to
\nget gasoline.<\/p>\n
At Tanjung Emas harbor in Semarang, tanker MT Sinar Yogya
\nunloaded on Tuesday 24,000 kiloliters of Premium gasoline.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the arrival can help with the fuel shortages at
\nseveral gas stations in Semarang,\" Pertamina's spokesperson in
\nSemarang, Heppy Wulansari, said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Several gas stations, including in the North Sulawesi town of
\nManado, had run out of gas on Wednesday, while in the East Java
\ntown of Kediri, several stations had set a five-liter limit on
\nsales to prevent stockpiling ahead of the fuel price increases.<\/p>\n
\"We support the move (to set a five-liter limit) as it makes
\nit easier to control,\" Kediri Police chief Adj. Comr. Suyono,
\ntold Antara.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, the scarcity has pushed the price of Premium
\ngasoline up to Rp 7,500 per liter at retailers.<\/p>\n
Although the government is yet to officially announce the new
\nfuel prices, the prices of some basic goods have started to rise.<\/p>\n
In Jambi, garlic was priced at Rp 8,000 a kg, from the
\nprevious Rp 7,000, while chilies were Rp 10,000 from the earlier
\nRp 7,000 a kg.<\/p>\n
A trader, Umar, said on Wednesday he had to increase prices
\nsince his merchandise came from outside Jambi, such as West
\nSumatra, meaning high transportation costs due to fuel
\nconsumption. \"We have to raise prices in order not to lose
\nmoney,\" Umar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-scarcity-affects-nation-1447893297",
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