Pertamina criticized over Sempati Air's fuel debts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil company Pertamina was criticized
\nyesterday by legislators for allowing private airline company
\nSempati Air to fall behind in paying its debts for the
\nprocurement of aviation fuel.<\/p>\n
The legislators, including Iskandar Mandji and Suriansjah of
\nGolkar and Bachtiar Chamsjah of the United Development Party,
\nsaid Pertamina should have stopped supplying aviation turbine oil
\nto Sempati Air after the airline erred on paying its debts.<\/p>\n
"Where is justice if Pertamina as a state owned company gives
\nspecial treatment dispensation to a private firm but punishes
\n(state owned electricity company) PLN for not paying its debts on
\ntime?" Suriansjah said.<\/p>\n
Pertamina had once stopped supplying diesel oil to PLN because
\nit fell behind in settling its debts, which caused PLN to reduce
\npower supply to consumers, said Iskandar.<\/p>\n
Debate<\/p>\n
The debate started yesterday when Iskandar asked why Sempati
\nAir had been allowed to owe so much money to Pertamina for such a
\nlong time without any penalty.<\/p>\n
Pertamina's president director Feisal Abda'oe was first
\nreluctant to confirm if the airline company, jointly owned by
\nHutomo Mandala Putra, Mohammad (Bob) Hasan and an Army-related
\nfoundation, had owed debts to Pertamina.<\/p>\n
"Actually, it is not entirely accurate to say that it (Sempati
\nAir) did not pay its debt. Sometimes it made the payment as
\nscheduled, sometimes not," said Feisal.<\/p>\n
He said that other airlines, including Garuda, also sometimes
\nfell behind in settling its fuel debts to Pertamina.<\/p>\n
"But at least, you should tell us how much the airline
\n(Sempati Air) currently owes to Pertamina," said Iskandar.<\/p>\n
Feisal refused to reveal Sempati's fuel debts, saying he would
\nsend the House members information on the debts later.<\/p>\n
According to Feisal, the contracts between Pertamina, Sempati
\nand other airlines require the payment of aviation fuel one month
\nafter delivery.<\/p>\n
Feisal said Pertamina served warning to the airlines if they
\nfailed to pay their fuel as scheduled. He said that no punishment
\nwas imposed on erring airlines.<\/p>\n
"If Pertamina stops supplying fuel to the airlines, they will
\nhave to stop operation. Are you ready to have no domestic flights
\nat all?" asked Feisal.<\/p>\n
"If you are ready, we shall soon stop supplying gas to any
\nerring airlines. But we shall tell the people that the measure is
\ntaken at the request of legislators," Feisal added.<\/p>\n
"I still recommend you to stop it (the supply of aviation gas
\nto Sempati Air)," said Bachtiar.<\/p>\n
"We don't mind if there are no flights for a week," said
\nSurjansah. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pertamina-criticized-over-sempati-airs-fuel-debts-1447893297",
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