Fuel scarcity makes Bukittinggi people anxious<\/p>\n
Kasparman Piliang, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra<\/p>\n
Premium gasoline has been hard to find at gas stations in
\nBukittinggi regency, West Sumatra, since three days ago, when
\nmany business activities and the operations of offices and
\nvehicles was suddenly stalled.<\/p>\n
The fuel scarcity hit the tourist city on Tuesday, with
\ngasoline not available at five gas stations.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the West Sumatra provincial administration, Yuen
\nKarnova, confirmed on Thursday, the shortage of gasoline in
\nBukittinggi.<\/p>\n
However, he could not identify the cause of the scarcity. \"It
\nmay be a result of the rising influx of visitors to the city,\"
\nYuen said.<\/p>\n
Since this year's school holiday period, in July, visitors
\nfrom provinces across the country have flooded Bukittinggi. Many
\ndriving private vehicles to the tourist city, in a situation
\nreminiscent to that of previous school vacation periods.<\/p>\n
The shortage of gasoline has caused anxiety among local
\nresidents as the situation has hampered their business
\nactivities, even stopping operations.<\/p>\n
\"If this situation is not tackled immediately, city activity
\nwill be at a standstill,\" Yuen said.<\/p>\n
Local officials said that due to the shortages, premium
\ngasoline was being sold for Rp 2,500 per liter, an increase from
\nthe usual price of Rp 2,000 per liter.<\/p>\n
Motorists had to travel to remote parts of Bukittiggi to find
\nfuel but they were only able to purchase a maximum of five liters
\neach.<\/p>\n
Fitri Erika, spokesman for state-owned oil and gas company
\nPertamina, in the West Sumatra capital of Padang, said her office
\nhad been notified of the fuel scarcity in Bukittinggi.<\/p>\n
She said the shortages were caused by a delay in gasoline
\nsupplies on the way from the Riau town of Dumai, around 300-400
\nkilometers from Bukittinggi, and Cilacap regency in Central Java.<\/p>\n
Fitri could not explain why the supply was stalled.<\/p>\n
Pertamina's Dumai depot normally supplies gasoline not only to
\nBukittinggi, but also to the neighboring towns of Batusangkar,
\nPayakumbuh and Pasaman.<\/p>\n
Padang's usual supply arrived at the Pertamina depot from
\nCilacap via shipment from Bungus Teluk Kabung, West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"The ship loaded with 11,000 liters of gasoline from Cilacap
\nwas scheduled to arrive on Wednesday morning. But because of an
\nunspecified problem it only arrived at Bungus Teluk Kabung on
\nWednesday night,\" Fitri said.<\/p>\n
\"We hope every thing will return to normal today (Thursday),\"
\nshe added.<\/p>\n
Fitri also blamed the fuel scarcity on the increased demand
\nfor fuel in the province, which she said had reached at least 831
\nkiloliters per day.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-scarcity-makes-bukittinggi-people-anxious-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}