Mataram runs out of kerosene, price up

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Kerosene shortage in Mataram and West Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara last week has prompted retailers to increase the price to between Rp 4,000 (45 US cents) and Rp 5,000 per liter, higher than the government's set price of Rp 2,800.

"It is getting difficult to find kerosene, and the price has increased sharply prior to Idul Fitri," Fitri said, a 30-year-old resident of BTN Pagutan in Mataram.

Before the fasting month, kerosene was sold at Rp 3,800 per liter. Since then, the price has risen higher and higher. The retailers can now only purchase 40 liters every two days instead of the previous 200 liters.

Bambank, an officer at Mataram municipal administration's trade agency, said the rocketing price of kerosene was due to high demand.

He said the kerosene was also being used to process tobacco in East Lombok, which requires a lot of fuel. --JP