The kerosene-to-gas conversion program has created a prolonged energy crisis in the province, causing residents in rural and remote areas to turn to firewood for their fuel.

Madura has been in the grip of a kerosene shortage for more than a month with severe cuts to supply and residents unable to afford its substitute, liquefied natural gas.

Yayuk, a kerosene retailer in Pandian village in Sumenep, said villagers put their jerricans in a queue in her yard three days before the kerosene supply from the regency capital arrived, despite the rising price.

"I buy the kerosene for Rp 3,500 per liter and sell it for Rp 4,000 per liter," she said, adding that each consignment usually sold out within a few hours, leaving many would-be buyers empty handed.

She said supply to the village had been limited to 1,000 liters per week, down from the usual 5,000 liters, with each buyer allowed to purchase no more than three liters.

Hanifah, from the Bangkal housing compound in Sumenep, said residents had started using firewood and charcoal for cooking, because they were available and relatively affordable.

"Housewives have been using firewood and charcoal because of the tough choice between kerosene, which is scarce, and gas, which is increasingly expensive," the 45-year-old said as quoted by detiksurabaya.com.

A 12-kilogram cylinder of gas costs Rp 90,000 (US$7.6).

Head of the Sumenep administration's economic affairs section, Ahmad Sidik, confirmed the fuel conversion program in the regency had failed, saying the regency had been returned to its pre-independence condition.

"The supply to the regency has been cut from 125,000 liters per week to 85,000 liters," he said, adding the central government had inaccurately assessed people's financial situation before introducing the program.

State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, he said, should be able to revive the supply because of falling fuel prices on the world market and suggest to the government that it drop the program.

In Pacitan, the hometown of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, residents had to go from one retailer to another in search of kerosene, often without success.

"A street vendor used to drop off kerosene at my home. Now I have to go to town in search of it," said Wiya Susanta, a soy milk trader in Pacitan.

Local distributors have said they have found it difficult to get a supply of kerosene since the Pertamina cut the supply to the town two months ago.

Suneti, a 58-year-old kerosene distributor, said Pertamina was allowing her to purchase only one drum of kerosene per week, forcing her to sell it to her neighbors only and to limit sales to each person to no more than two liters at a price of Rp 4,000 per liter.

Head of the Pacitan cooperative, industry and trade agency, Prasetya Wibowo, confirmed that Pertamina had cut the kerosene supply to the town from 25 tons per week to 20 tons.

This has created a fuel crisis among residents, who have had to turn to charcoal and firewood.

Resource-rich Bojonegoro is suffering a similar situation, as the kerosene supply has been cut even though the fuel conversion program has yet to be introduced there.

Head of the local industry and trade office, Djoko Prasetyo, said the local government had yet to receive information on whether the conversion program would be carried out in the regency, home to hundreds of oil and gas fields jointly explored by Pertamina and U.S.-based energy company ExxonMobil.

But sources at the local Pertamina office confirmed the company had prepared thousands of gas cylinders to distribute to designated villages and housing compounds in the regency.

Popular

Indonesia one step from Olympics after beating South Korea

Opposition weakens as rivals pledge support for Prabowo

Golden generation