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