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Gas stations dry up due to supply reroute
A number of gas stations in Jakarta reported they were out of Premium gasoline Tuesday despite the state-owned oil company claiming supply to the city would not be threatened by the massive explosion at one of its Premium gas tanks at its Plumpang depot in North Jakarta on Sunday
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A number of gas stations in Jakarta reported they were out of Premium gasoline Tuesday despite the state-owned oil company claiming supply to the city would not be threatened by the massive explosion at one of its Premium gas tanks at its Plumpang depot in North Jakarta on Sunday.
Many stations, including Kebon Jeruk and Kemandoran stations — which are supplied by Plumpang — displayed signs reading “Out of Premium”.
“We run out of Premium fuel Monday morning. It’s been more than 24 hours now,” Chairul Sujadmiko, the head of the Kebon Jeruk gas station in West Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post.
He said his station had received 16,000 liters of Premium fuel per day before the explosion and ensuing fire at Plumpang.
The station sells an average of 12,000 liters of fuel per day.
“We have enough diesel fuel for now, although I am not sure how long it will last. Most vehicles use Premium, that is why that fuel is vital for business,” Chairul said.
“I have been trying to contact [Pertamina] since yesterday to ask when we will be resupplied, but the call center is always busy.”
Kemandoran gas station operational head Rasma said he had managed to get through to Pertamina.
“They told me to wait and promised that the [fuel] would be delivered as soon as possible. Still, it doesn’t ease my worries about the potential losses we might suffer today,” he said.
Meanwhile, scores of motorcycles and cars were queing up for Premium at the nearby Palmerah gas station. However, station head Raden Widodo said the good business wouldn’t last.
“We only have about 700 liters of Premium fuel left. It is probably going to run out in about 20 minutes,” he said at about 11 a.m.
“It is very difficult to contact Pertamina. I called and I called but no one picked up.”
Pertamina’s corporate communications vice president Anang Rizkani Noor said the oil company was experiencing technical difficulties and not a supply shortage.
“Scarcity is when there is no supply for three days in a row. It is taking longer than usual for the reserve supplies to arrive from Cikampek, Padalarang and Merak because they are all located a bit farther from the gas stations compared to Plumpang,” he said.
He said that Plumpang depot had resumed normal operations on Monday at 4 p.m.
“With Plumpang operational again, supply will return to normal starting Tuesday afternoon,” he said.
On Sunday night, a massive fire engulfed a tank containing 3 million liters of Premium fuel.
The fire, which rose 100 meters into the sky, burned until Monday morning.
The blaze, which consumed tank 24, also damaged two adjacent tanks.
Pertamina has not officially announced the losses due to the fire, but experts estimate they could be in the region of Rp 15 billion (US$1.5 million). Despite being the country’s most vital distribution point for duel supply to the capital, the Plumpang depot has been critized for having lax security. The cause of the explosion is unknown. (hdt)
