BPH Migas Uncovers Suspected Misuse of Subsidised Fuel in Jambi

The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) has uncovered suspected misuse of subsidised fuel distribution in the Jambi region as a follow-up to public complaints. BPH Migas Head Wahyudi Anas stated that the government is continuously strengthening oversight to ensure subsidised fuel is precisely targeted to entitled communities. The suspicion arose after queues and complaints from the public. To respond, BPH Migas, together with Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Indonesian Ombudsman, conducted monitoring at several petrol stations in Jambi City and Muaro Jambi Regency on Saturday (11/7). According to Wahyudi, the inspection results indicated signs of subsidised fuel misuse through repeated purchases for resale to the industrial sector. He explained that the practice was carried out by utilising multiple QR codes in subsidised fuel purchase transactions. “The ‘pengerit’ or ‘helicopter’ modus operandi involves using many QR codes that do not match the vehicle type and number plate. Additionally, vehicle registration documents (STNK) were mismatched, vehicles were modified, and many consumers used duplicate QR codes,” he said. Wahyudi stated that the findings have been handed over to the Jambi Regional Police for further examination and investigation in accordance with applicable legal provisions. “We have handed it over to the law enforcement apparatus of the Jambi Regional Police to conduct a review and investigation into the fuel distribution and the types of vehicles showing anomalies,” he said. He added that if violations in the distribution of subsidised fuel are proven, actions will be taken according to regulations, including sanctions against petrol stations proven to have breached the rules. “This includes the Jambi Regional Police conducting sweeping operations again for ‘pengerit’ activities, with enforcement carried out together with the local government,” he said. In addition, the Jambi Provincial Government will prepare necessary internal regulations so that services at petrol stations in Jambi and surrounding areas run more smoothly. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration, Wahyudi continued, is key to ensuring subsidised fuel is truly used for community needs. Synergy is also being continuously strengthened between BPH Migas, Commission XII of the DPR, the Ombudsman, the Jambi Regional Police, the Jambi Provincial Government, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumatera Bagian Selatan (Sumbagsel), and the Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. “With the situation in Jambi, which is full of queues and many people genuinely needing subsidised and compensation fuel, we continue to hope for integrated collaboration from all parties so that the control of subsidised fuel consumption is truly used for community activities and services, and can improve the economy,” he asserted. Commission XII DPR member Syarif Fasha explained that the inspection results showed anomalies in the distribution of subsidised fuel at several petrol stations. “It turns out, after checking the digital data system, there were irregularities,” he said. Fasha added that Commission XII DPR will coordinate with the Jambi Provincial Government to formulate regulations to control subsidised fuel distribution. He hopes the results of the oversight of subsidised fuel distribution governance and assignments in Jambi can serve as an example for other regions. Meanwhile, Ombudsman member Nuzran Joher stated plans to strengthen cooperation on subsidised fuel governance with BPH Migas by involving regional representative networks. “Today, we have an understanding. In the near future, we will carry out a memorandum of understanding and cooperation by utilising the collaboration of 34 Ombudsman representatives across Indonesia to ensure that governance and distribution, according to BPH Migas’s duties and functions, can be precisely targeted to the community,” he explained. Assistant II for Economic and Development Affairs of the Jambi Provincial Secretariat, Syamsurizal, expressed that the monitoring results will serve as evaluation material for the local government to formulate regulations for more targeted use of subsidised fuel. “We hope everyone can be orderly in using subsidised fuel, because there are still many entitled people who need it,” he said. Jambi Regional Police Director of Special Criminal Investigation, Taufik Nurmandia, confirmed that his party will follow up on the findings of suspected subsidised fuel misuse. “We have carried out inspection assistance at the petrol stations. We will follow up on what has been found and coordinate with Pertamina to check these findings first,” he explained.