Yogyakarta all fired up over kerosene<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
More than a month before the government increases fuel prices
\nnationwide, residents in Yogyakarta have began stock-piling
\nkerosene, causing a shortage of the fuel on Monday.<\/p>\n
Wiyono, a kerosene agent in Sleman, said that many residents,
\nespecially sidewalk vendors, had started buying large quantities
\nof kerosene after they learned about the planned price hike.<\/p>\n
He said retailers used to buy an average of 10 liters of
\nkerosene a day; now many were buying up to 25 liters.<\/p>\n
"People have been buying up large quantities of kerosene
\nduring the past four days and we as agents can't do much to stop
\nit," Wiyono said.<\/p>\n
He blamed the increase on the government's plan to lift the
\nsubsidies on cooking and transportation fuel on April 1st. The
\ngovernment has not yet said how much it would reduce the
\nsubsidies but analysts expect rises in the prices of cooking oil
\nand premium gasoline by at least 15 percent.<\/p>\n
"I usually receive a kerosene supply of four barrels (about
\n2,000 liters) three times a week. That is usually enough for a
\nweek, but now people have already lined up before the supply is
\ndelivered and it goes very quickly," he said.<\/p>\n
However, The Jakarta Post observed that the retail price of
\nkerosene had not yet increased and remained at about Rp 1,200 to
\nRp 1,300 a liter.<\/p>\n
Head of the industry and trade office in Yogyakarta, Syahbenol
\nHasibuan, confirmed increased demand was behind the kerosene
\nshortage.<\/p>\n
"Demand for kerosene in Yogyakarta has drastically increased,
\nfar above the available supply, causing scarcity although we have
\nnot cut the supply," he said.<\/p>\n
Oil company Pertamina Yogyakarta marketing head Imam Hidayat
\nChalik said the fuel supply in the province was still enough to
\nmeet local demand. "Kerosene supplies to agents are not being cut
\neither," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the prices of other basic foodstuffs, including
\nsugar and rice, also rose in several traditional markets in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the price of imported sugar increased from Rp 6,200
\nby Rp 300. Imported rice, which was sold at Rp 3,200 a kilogram
\nlast week, was now being sold at Rp 3,400.<\/p>\n
"The prices of sugar and rice have started to increase in the
\nlast week. I'm sure next week the prices will rise again," a
\nhousewife, Sukirah Mulyono, said in Demangan market.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogyakarta-all-fired-up-over-kerosene-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}