Pertamina told to anticipate fuel rush ahead of fuel price increase

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro has told state oil and gas company Pertamina to anticipate fuel rush whenever the House of Representatives approves the government's proposal to increase fuel prices by 30 percent, Kompas daily reported on Monday (May 21).

Purnomo said that the current diesel fuel shortage at the market following the government's decision to increase diesel fuel prices to industrial users starting April 1 should serve as a good lesson for Pertamina not to repeat similar fuel shortages in the future whenever fuel prices increase again.

Purnomo acknowledged that he did not know what the culprits behind the current diesel fuel shortages, as the increase started in April but the shortage only occurred later in May. It should have occurred in March as industries should have anticipated the diesel fuel price increase.

"Pertamina is still studying this strange phenomena. Industrial customers that do not take the full portion of diesel fuel from Pertamina will be closely monitored," he said.

He noted that the diesel fuel shortage had been tackled by Pertamina by supplying more diesel fuels to gas stations.

"Actually, Pertamina does not increase the amount of diesel fuels, but only shifts the diesel fuel for industries to gas stations to maintain a stable balance between demand and supplies," he said. (*)