Medan City Government Seeks Explanation for Fuel Queues at Pertamina Stations
The Medan City Government visited the office of Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut to request an explanation and ensure the handling of long vehicle queues at a number of petrol stations across Medan on Wednesday (15/7).
The move was carried out on the instruction of Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas to oversee the fuel distribution problem until it returns to normal. The Medan City Government received an explanation from Pertamina that the issue is purely a technical distribution constraint, not a shortage of fuel supply.
Before Pertamina officials, Citra explained that the city government’s visit was a follow-up to coordination carried out on 8 July. At that meeting, which was also attended by North Sumatra Regional Police, Hiswana Migas and the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, Pertamina said fuel distribution to petrol stations had been disrupted due to the replacement of a number of tanker truck drivers.
At the time, Pertamina estimated the situation would return to normal by Friday (10/7). However, as of today, vehicle queues have grown even longer and several petrol stations were reported to have temporarily run out of supply, both subsidised and non-subsidised fuel.
“That is why we have come to seek clarity. The public needs certainty about what is actually happening. Whether the obstacles faced are still the same as previously stated or whether there are other issues causing fuel distribution not to return to normal,” said Citra.
According to Citra, the Medan City Government is also ready to provide support so that the distribution problem can be resolved quickly. In the field, the city government has deployed personnel from the Transportation Agency and the Public Order Agency to several petrol stations to help manage traffic flow and keep vehicle queues orderly.
“On the Mayor’s instruction, we continue to monitor this fuel queue issue. We have also offered to Pertamina that, should there be anything that needs assistance, the Medan City Government is ready to help,” he said.
The Medan City Government hopes that Pertamina’s accelerated distribution efforts will bear fruit so that service at all petrol stations returns to normal.
Meanwhile, Tito Rivanto, Sales Area Manager Retail Medan at Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut, expressed appreciation for the Medan City Government’s attention in coming directly to coordinate on fuel distribution.
He affirmed that fuel stocks in Medan are secure and sufficient to meet demand. Pertamina is currently carrying out internal improvements, particularly in the fuel delivery system using tanker truck fleets. The improvements are being made in parallel with efforts to maintain smooth distribution to all petrol stations.
To accelerate normalisation, Pertamina has added tanker trucks, brought in drivers from external parties, and increased the number of petrol stations operating 24 hours a day in Medan.
“We hope these measures will gradually improve service to the public so that long queues that disrupt the conduciveness of Medan do not happen again,” said Tito.
He added that Pertamina is making every effort to ensure the delivery and distribution of fuel to all petrol stations can return to normal as soon as possible.
“We continue to work so the normalisation process can take place as quickly as possible,” Tito concluded.