Surakarta people show ID to get kerosene
Surakarta people show ID to get kerosene
Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
The kerosene shortage in the Central Java town of Surakarta has
forced residents to bring along not only money and a container
but also their family cards to kerosene distributors.
The move was taken by some kerosene agents in the city to
ensure that everyone got a fair share of kerosene.
"Since kerosene is hard to get, many people come to buy
kerosene carrying more than one container," kerosene seller
Nurrohman, who runs his business in Jagalan area, Jebres
district, told The Jakarta Post. "At times, a family sends
several family members to get a huge share of kerosene."
By showing the family card, he could ensure that each family
got a container of kerosene. "I just want to put things in order
so more families get kerosene," said Nurrohman.
He received 12,500 liters of kerosene every week, distributed
in three stages, from state oil company Pertamina. The supply was
enough for at least 2,500 families in his neighborhood.
He requested each of his customers to submit a copy of his or
her family card, from which he then made a list of customers to
prevent double buying. By the third day he had received at least
492 copies of family cards.
"We limit the amount of kerosene one family can buy to five
liters a day at a cost of Rp 1,000 per liter," he said.
Several other kerosene agents, such as in Mojosongko and
Gandekan subdistricts, also requested customers to submit a copy
of their family cards.
Still, the inadequate kerosene supply forced people to line up
for hours to get kerosene, which is distributed to agents in the
two subdistricts on Mondays and Thursdays.
However, a small kerosene agent in Sekarpace, Jebres did not
require customers to submit copies of family cards. "Here, it's
first come first served," said owner Sutarmi.
The kerosene agent received a fresh supply of 1,400 liters of
kerosene per day, which was sold at Rp 1,000 a liter. One
customer could buy three liters of kerosene but regular retailers
could get up to 10 liters.
Kerosene prices, however, varied. In Ringin Semar village in
Jebres, it was sold for up to Rp 1,700 per liter.
"We usually buy kerosene for Rp 1,600 per liter but only get
two liters every three days," said Didik, a housewife.
The kerosene scarcity has also opened up opportunities for new
sellers coming from outside the city, such as from the nearby
Wonogiri regency which is 60 kilometers from Surakarta.
"There are kerosene sellers from Batu, Wonogiri carrying large
containers of kerosene with motorcycles and offering it at the
price of Rp 1,800 per liter," Suwarto, a Jagalan resident, said
on Thursday.
He said the Wonogiri traders came with kerosene to Surakarta
because there was no shortage there.
"The sellers come in groups of three to five people, carrying
up to 100 liters of kerosene with them," Suwarto said.
Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
The kerosene shortage in the Central Java town of Surakarta has
forced residents to bring along not only money and a container
but also their family cards to kerosene distributors.
The move was taken by some kerosene agents in the city to
ensure that everyone got a fair share of kerosene.
"Since kerosene is hard to get, many people come to buy
kerosene carrying more than one container," kerosene seller
Nurrohman, who runs his business in Jagalan area, Jebres
district, told The Jakarta Post. "At times, a family sends
several family members to get a huge share of kerosene."
By showing the family card, he could ensure that each family
got a container of kerosene. "I just want to put things in order
so more families get kerosene," said Nurrohman.
He received 12,500 liters of kerosene every week, distributed
in three stages, from state oil company Pertamina. The supply was
enough for at least 2,500 families in his neighborhood.
He requested each of his customers to submit a copy of his or
her family card, from which he then made a list of customers to
prevent double buying. By the third day he had received at least
492 copies of family cards.
"We limit the amount of kerosene one family can buy to five
liters a day at a cost of Rp 1,000 per liter," he said.
Several other kerosene agents, such as in Mojosongko and
Gandekan subdistricts, also requested customers to submit a copy
of their family cards.
Still, the inadequate kerosene supply forced people to line up
for hours to get kerosene, which is distributed to agents in the
two subdistricts on Mondays and Thursdays.
However, a small kerosene agent in Sekarpace, Jebres did not
require customers to submit copies of family cards. "Here, it's
first come first served," said owner Sutarmi.
The kerosene agent received a fresh supply of 1,400 liters of
kerosene per day, which was sold at Rp 1,000 a liter. One
customer could buy three liters of kerosene but regular retailers
could get up to 10 liters.
Kerosene prices, however, varied. In Ringin Semar village in
Jebres, it was sold for up to Rp 1,700 per liter.
"We usually buy kerosene for Rp 1,600 per liter but only get
two liters every three days," said Didik, a housewife.
The kerosene scarcity has also opened up opportunities for new
sellers coming from outside the city, such as from the nearby
Wonogiri regency which is 60 kilometers from Surakarta.
"There are kerosene sellers from Batu, Wonogiri carrying large
containers of kerosene with motorcycles and offering it at the
price of Rp 1,800 per liter," Suwarto, a Jagalan resident, said
on Thursday.
He said the Wonogiri traders came with kerosene to Surakarta
because there was no shortage there.
"The sellers come in groups of three to five people, carrying
up to 100 liters of kerosene with them," Suwarto said.