Tanker drivers protest Pertamina's crackdown

About one hundred tanker drivers went on strike near state oil and gas company Pertamina's fuel storage facility in Plumpang, North Jakarta Thursday morning to protest the state company's crackdown on fuel mixture.

Pertamina's spokesman Toto Suparto said the drivers parked their tankers outside the fuel storage facilities, causing traffic jam on Jl. Yos Sudarso thoroughfare.

Most of the drivers were the employees of fuel wholesalers in Jakarta and West Java who had their kerosene supplies cut and stopped by Pertamina.

Pertamina has cut and stopped kerosene supplies to more than 20 fuel wholesalers in Jakarta and West Java who were found guilty of mixing kerosene with automotive diesel oil.

"The drivers demand Pertamina resume kerosene supplies to the wholesalers and stop cracking down on fuel mixing activities," Toto said.

Fuel mixing activities for commercial purpose is deemed illegal in the country despite the fact that some mixture produces better results.

For instance, automotive diesel oil will have a better quality and sell well if mixed with kerosene, Toto said.

Pertamina now sells automotive diesel oil for Rp 550 (US$1=Rp 8,603) per liter and kerosene for Rp 380 per liter. Wholesalers will make a big profit if they mix the fuel and sell it to the public at the normal price for automotive diesel oil.

"We have often called on the government to raise kerosene price to about the same level with automotive diesel oil's to prevent the fuel mixing activities," Toto said. (*)