Fuel vendors get competition
Hasrul, The Jakarta Post, Kendari
"Gasoline, gasoline,!" Rahmat shouted to motorists on Jl. Ahmad Yani in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. Dozens of bottles, each containing one liter of gasoline, lined the shelves of his kiosk, ready to be sold for Rp 3,000 (approximately 30 US cents) a bottle.
From time to time Rahmat takes a look inside the two large cans from which he fills the smaller bottles. Rahmat said he had been selling gasoline at the location for the past two weeks. He used to work as a laborer at Kendari Port.
"Selling gasoline is much better than lugging sacks at the port," he said. Rahmat can make a profit of up to Rp 40,000 per jerry can of gasoline on a good day. "I have two large cans, and they are usually sold out before 10 p.m."
Rahmat is just one of many first-time fuel vendors trying to benefit from skyrocketing fuel prices in Kendari over the past few weeks.
"There were only 30 vendors registered at the seven gas stations in Kendari in 2004, and that number has now reached 700," said Jon, a fuel vendor in the Andonohu subdistrict of the city. Jon, a former coordinator for fuel vendors in Kendari, expressed concern about all the new fuel sellers in the city.
It is easy to see why people are lured to the business. Retailers can earn a profit of Rp 50,000 from a 35-liter can of gasoline.
Premium gas, for example, usually sells for Rp 3,000 a liter in Kendari, compared to the listed price of Rp 2,400 a liter, and can reach Rp 4,000 to Rp 5,000 on the outskirts of town.
The rising number of people working as fuel vendor has prompted fuel stations to limit their sales to vendors to two large 35-liter cans. This limit is in line with Municipal Decree No. 12/2005. The decree states, among other items, that fuel vendors can purchase fuel at gas stations only after 6 p.m., and that they must sell that fuel at least one kilometer from the gas station.
Despite the fuel shortages in the city, the head of the Pertamina depot in Kendari, Slamet Sudibyo, claimed that the supply of Premium gas in the city was stable. According to Slamet, the shortages are the result of market panic caused by rumors of deficient fuel stocks in the months to come.
"People should not be anxious because our fuel stock in Kendari is sufficient," said Slamet.
Slamet also said that gas stations were serving the hundreds of fuel vendors first, making it more difficult for motorists to get gas.
According to the municipal degree, gas stations should prioritize motorists. "If everyone obeyed the rules, there would not be long lines at gas stations. In addition, gas stations must limit their supplies to fuel vendors," said Slamet.