Pertamina lainches operation to restore kerosene supply

Pertamina lainches operation to restore kerosene supply

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Residents of South Cileungsi village, Cileungsi district, Bogor
regency, enthusiastically bought kerosene supplied by state oil
and gas company Pertamina on Saturday amid reports that a
kerosene shortage had hit many parts of the country.

The fuel was sold in the village for Rp 510 (4.9 U.S. cents)
per liter.

Pertamina officials said the company was doing "market
operations" simultaneously in the many parts of the country hit
by a shortage.

The market operation in the village was witnessed by, among
others, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo
Yusgiantoro and Director General of Oil and Gas Rachmat Sudibyo.

A kerosene shortage has hit many parts of the country as many
people are hoarding the commodity in anticipation of the fuel
price increases the government plans for this month.

Slamet Singgih, head of the Anti-Fuel Smuggling Coordinating
Team, who was also present during the market operation in
Cileungsi, said his team found Friday a total of 89,000 liters of
kerosene and 15,000 liters of diesel oil worth Rp 49 million
hoarded by locals in Cileungsi and surrounding areas.

Local police chief first inspector H. Santoso said the police
were still searching for the persons suspected of hoarding the
fuel.

Under the new oil and gas law, fuel hoarding is considered
illegal and is punishable by three years in prison and a maximum
Rp 30 billion fine.