Residents protest over fuel scarcity

BATAM, Riau Islands: Hundreds of people have staged a protest in front of state oil and gas company PT Pertamina's Batam office, demanding that the company do something about the scarcity kerosene in the area.

Aqrilullah, 46, one of the protesters living in Batu Ampar district here, said that the kerosene scarcity started two months ago, causing disruption to residents who need it for cooking and lighting.

Responding to the protest, Nono Asmanu, a senior Pertamina official in Batam, said that his office was working to overcome the fuel scarcity problem. - JP