Pertamina protested over rare fuel

Pertamina protested over rare fuel

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Ethnic Malay residents in West Kalimantan staged a demonstration at the local office of state- owned oil firm Pertamina on Monday demanding that the company take responsibility for the unresolved kerosene shortages in the province.

Arriving on two trucks, the protesters held up posters and banners saying the shortages had caused thousands of locals to suffer during the prolonged crisis.

They were later received by local Pertamina marketing executive Arie Anggoro and its head of shipping Jhon Chaidir.

The Malays urged Pertamina to address the shortages, otherwise they would continue to protest in the coming days.

The price of kerosene has soared to Rp 1,500 per liter in recent weeks due to the lack of supply. The official price is only Rp 550 per liter.

Anggoro denied Pertamina reduced the supply of kerosene, but blamed the shortages on certain dealers who have hoarded the heating oil for their own benefit. --Antara