BPH Migas Ensures Targeted Subsidised Diesel Distribution for Fishermen
The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas), together with the Indonesian Ombudsman (Ombudsman RI) and Pertamina Patra Niaga, has inspected the distribution of subsidised fuel oil (BBM) in Semarang and Kendal, Central Java, to ensure diesel reaches eligible fishermen.
BPH Migas Head Wahyudi Anas stated the inspection aimed to evaluate the quality of subsidised fuel distribution services, particularly for the fisheries sector. “We are ensuring that the distribution of diesel fuel faces no obstacles and is delivered to the right fishermen, not resold or consumed by non-fishermen,” Wahyudi said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Wahyudi, monitoring results showed that the majority of vessels operating at the Tawang Fish Landing Base (TPI) are small-scale fishing boats under 30 Gross Tonnage (GT). Of the approximately 1,082 boats registered in the area, around 1,000 are 5 GT vessels, which are the primary users of subsidised diesel. He noted that daily fuel purchases using recommendation letters range from 300 to 500, depending on the number of fishermen going to sea.
Wahyudi assessed that the distribution management at the Tawang Fishermen’s Fuel Station (SPBU Nelayan) is running well. Pertamina Patra Niaga has also arranged for early fuel supply deliveries to ensure fishermen can access subsidised diesel during service hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.
BPH Migas Committee Member Hasbi Anshory added that field supervision is conducted to guarantee the benefits of energy subsidies are received by the rightful recipients. He also encouraged improvements to the queuing mechanism at the fishermen’s fuel station to make the process more orderly and efficient. “We hope the service at the fuel station can be further improved so there are no more long queues and the subsidised fuel is right on target,” Hasbi said.
Meanwhile, Ombudsman RI Vice Chairman Rahmadi Indra Tektona assessed that the fuel distribution service for fishermen is already running well. He suggested that the queuing mechanism could be refined, perhaps by introducing a numbering system, to make the refuelling process more orderly and efficient. “We will strive to make queuing easier in the future, perhaps by providing numbers, so that it ultimately makes it easier for fishermen to work, with the hope of yielding more for their families and advancing the region,” he remarked.