Makassar sees no kerosene

Makassar sees no kerosene

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Kerosene has been missing from the
market in the past couple of weeks here, stirring anxiety among
thousands of the city's residents.

"I have not sold kerosene over the past week as the agent of
(state oil company) Pertamina stopped operating," Fataruddin, 42,
a kerosene seller, said on Thursday.

Some traders suspected that the oil agent tried to stockpile
the kerosene from the market to allow the company to control the
price. The fuel is normally sold for Rp 400 per liter.

"They expect to see the price going up, while consumers have
no other choice but to buy as kerosene as it is one of their
daily necessities," Fataruddin said.

A local logistics and distribution official, Winarto, denied
the allegation that Pertamina was hoarding kerosene.

"After hearing the public complaints, we have supplied over
600,000 liters of kerosene per day since Wednesday," he said.
(27/edt)