Pertamina Blames Fuel Scarcity in Medan on Post-School Holiday Surge
PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut has addressed the fuel scarcity that has triggered long queues at several petrol stations in the Medan area, North Sumatra, in recent days. Area Manager Communication, Relation and CSR Fahrogi Andriani Sumampau stated that the queues were triggered by a surge in public demand after the school holidays. According to him, this significant increase in fuel consumption requires adjustments to transport capacity and tanker truck rotations so that distribution to petrol stations can return to equilibrium.
‘In the last few days, there has been a significant increase in the public’s fuel needs, particularly after the school holidays,’ he said on Tuesday (14/7). Fahrogi apologised for the inconvenience to the public, including public transport drivers and business operators, affected by the long queues. He confirmed that fuel stocks at the Medan Fuel Terminal are in a safe condition.
He claimed that fuel availability at the terminal, particularly in the Medan Group, is well maintained. Their current focus is on accelerating fuel deliveries from the terminal to petrol stations. To break up the queues and speed up distribution recovery, Pertamina is now operating the Medan Fuel Terminal 24 hours a day. Other technical measures include the addition of 20 tanker trucks, the implementation of a spot charter scheme, and the deployment of additional personnel from the Army’s Supply and Transport Corps and tanker crews from other regional areas.
They are also diverting supplies from fuel terminals in Kisaran, Pematang Siantar, and Lhokseumawe to support needs in North Sumatra. The current distribution priority is directed to petrol stations serving logistics corridors and public transport. ‘We understand that the public expects real action, not just explanations,’ Fahrogi said. He urged the public to remain calm and not to engage in panic buying. The company also claims to be continuously coordinating with the North Sumatra Provincial Government, law enforcement officials, and the Indonesian National Petroleum and Gas Business Association to ensure distribution returns to normal in the near future.