Pertamina Patra Niaga and Government Inaugurate Fishermen's Fuel Station in South Aceh, Strengthening Energy Access for Fishermen
As an effort to promote energy equity and improve the coastal community’s economy, while supporting the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperative (KDMP) programme, Pertamina Patra Niaga, together with the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, inaugurated the Fishermen’s Public Fuel Filling Station (SPBUN) in East Bakongan Subdistrict, South Aceh Regency, on Tuesday (28/04).
Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that the construction of the SPBUN is one of the government’s concrete steps to enhance fishermen’s welfare in various regions.
“Alhamdulillah, today we are inaugurating the Fishermen’s SPBUN. This is a breakthrough we are undertaking together with the Ministry of Cooperatives, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH Migas), and Pertamina Patra Niaga. The aim is to provide solar facilities that will be used for going to sea. This is also part of the implementation of the national priority programme,” he said at the SPBUN in East Bakongan Subdistrict, South Aceh, on Tuesday (28/4).
Ferry emphasised that to meet fishermen’s needs, the government is committed to increasing the number of SPBUNs along Indonesia’s coastline.
Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Didit Herdiawan revealed that the construction of this SPBUN is the result of cross-ministry and state-owned enterprise synergy. According to him, the facility is part of President RI’s priority programme through the Red and White Fishermen’s Village.
“Today, we are carrying out the President’s priority programme activity, namely building the Red and White Fishermen’s Village (KNMP), which includes the SPBUN managed by the cooperative of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen’s Union (KNTI). This relates to the synergy between the KNMP programme and the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperative (KDKMP) programme. We are collaborating to ensure good management on the ground,” he added.
At the same location, BPH Migas Committee Member Fathul Nugroho affirmed that BPH Migas continues to oversee energy distribution to Indonesia’s outermost regions, including the western tip of the country in South Aceh.
“This SPBUN has been inaugurated by the Minister of Cooperatives and the Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Of course, BPH Migas is carrying out the mandate and instructions of President Prabowo Subianto and the guidance of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to ensure that fuel distribution, especially subsidised fuel, reaches all corners of Indonesia, including the outermost western part in South Aceh. This is expected to help fish catching operations and improve fishermen’s welfare,” he said.
Director of Retail Marketing at Pertamina Patra Niaga, Eko Ricky Susanto, stated that energy provision is a key factor in supporting the community’s economy, including the marine and fisheries sector.
The presence of this cooperative-based fishermen’s fuel station is expected to provide easier access to subsidised fuel for fishermen in a more targeted manner, thereby supporting more efficient sea activities and impacting the improvement of coastal community welfare.
“In addition to this ninth SPBUN managed by the KNTI Cooperative, which is also one of our partners, in South Aceh itself there are already six fishermen’s fuel stations, 19 in the Province of Aceh, and nearly 416 fishermen’s fuel stations throughout Indonesia,” said Eko Ricky.
Eko Ricky added that Pertamina Patra Niaga continues to expand fishermen’s fuel station services through collaboration with fishermen’s cooperatives, including KNTI, as a strategic partner in ensuring energy distribution reaches coastal areas more equitably.
Furthermore, Eko Ricky affirmed Pertamina Patra Niaga’s readiness to support the development of fishermen’s fuel stations in various regions of Indonesia as part of the One Price Fuel programme, to ensure that people in 3T regions (disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost) can access affordable energy.
“This SPBUN is also the President’s programme, where he wants to ensure that all corners of the country receive energy in the form of subsidised fuel intended for consumers, for the Indonesian people, whether fishermen or communities in 3T regions,” explained Eko Ricky.
From the fishermen’s perspective, the existence of this KNTI-managed SPBUN is directly felt by local fishermen. Tarmizi, a fisherman from East Bakongan, said that access to fuel is now easier and operational costs can be reduced.
“This Fishermen’s Fuel Station is very helpful to us; we, especially the residents here, are very grateful to Pertamina for building this SPBUN,” he said.
Harmaini, a fisherman from South Aceh, echoed the sentiment, stating that the presence of the fishermen’s fuel station helps with ease of going to sea.
“This is very helpful for fishermen here; every day, refuelling fuel is more economical than before. Now there are no obstacles to going to sea, made easier by the presence of this Fishermen’s Fuel Station,” she said.