Fuel crisis returns to E. Nusa Tenggara

Fuel crisis returns to E. Nusa Tenggara

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Severe fuel shortages have again hit
eight regencies in East Nusa Tenggara province on Wednesday,
leading to long queues at gasoline stations.

The gasoline scarcity has also caused prices to rise, adding
to people's misery. In Atambua and Waingapu regencies, people
have had to queue for three hours in order to obtain a ration of
premium gasoline.

Employees at gasoline stations blamed state oil and gas
company PT Pertamina for the fuel scarcity. According to them,
the fuel shortage occurred because Pertamina had cut fuel
supplies to the region.

However chief of Pertamina Kupang marketing operations Adi
Nugroho denied that the company was responsible for the fuel
shortage. He said that the company had distributed additional
fuel supplies to the region last Friday. -- JP