Kerosene scarce in Tangerang, Depok

JAKARTA: People in Tangerang and Depok are desperate for kerosene due to a lack of supply. The price of a liter of kerosene has risen from Rp 1,200 (20 U.S. cents) per liter to between Rp 1,700 and Rp 2,000 per liter.

Tangerang National Oil and Gas Entrepreneurs Association (Hiswana Migas) urged state-owned oil company PT Pertamina on Friday to carry out a market operation to meet residents' demands.

"We call on Pertamina to prioritize kerosene distribution directly to agents in Tangerang," said the association's oil division head, Tommy Darmadji.

Separately, a busy oil agent in Depok, Yahman Setiawan, said that the kerosene undersupply was due to increased demand from consumers after the Idul Fitri holiday.

"At present there is a 25 percent increase in demand. Several kerosene vendors are still in their hometowns. It's really not a problem," he said, as quoted by Warta Kota.

Yahman added that for the past two weeks, all large agents had been carrying out market operations in several subdistricts every Sunday in cooperation with the Depok Industry and Trade Agency.

In the operations, 160,000 additional liters of kerosene were supplied, he said. -- JP