Pertamina's monopoly questioned

The inability of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina to secure supplies of fuels to the people has prompted consumer rights expert Rachmad Safa'at from the University of Brawijaya in Malang to question Pertamina's monopoly in the distribution of fuels to the people.

"At least with the current fuel scarcity, the people could file a class action against Pertamina because Pertamina has neglected consumers' rights," Rachmad said.

He said that Pertamina's monopoly rights over oil and gas must be questioned then, as it proved incapable to secure fuel supplies to the people.

"It's true that there is no guarantee that consumers will get the best prices if Pertamina's monopoly rights is revoked. But at the same time, the people could not get security in terms of prices and supplies if we maintain Pertamina's monopoly rights," he noted.

Rachmad argued that it was illogical if Pertamina, as an old established oil company, could not quickly solve the current fuel scarcity problems. Moreover, as an oil exporting country, Indonesia should have never had such a fuel scarcity.

Meanwhile, the director general of oil and gas at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Rachmat Sudibyo said that the government could not increase fuel stocks from the level enough for 25 days now to around 3 months, like what the United States does.

He said that the government just had no money to maintain large stocks like what the U.S. does. He noted that it needs around $625 million to maintain a stock of fuels enough for 25 days.

"Does the government have the money to maintain stocks enough for three months?" (*)