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Amid shortage, cars switch to Premium
On the heels of the limited distribution of Premium, the subsidized fuel, gas stations in Bekasi, West Java, are experiencing higher demand for the fuel from car owners who usually buy Pertamax, the non-subsidized fuel
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O
n the heels of the limited distribution of Premium, the subsidized fuel, gas stations in Bekasi, West Java, are experiencing higher demand for the fuel from car owners who usually buy Pertamax, the non-subsidized fuel.
It seemed that amid dwindling supply, many car owners wanted to enjoy the last days of cheap fuel.
The higher demand has created long queues of vehicles for Premium, so much so that a gas station in Jati Asih has opened the motorcycle lane to cars.
A motorcyclist complained to the gas station attendant on Tuesday as the lane was crowded with expensive cars.
'It turned out that the long lines were caused by luxury cars running on Premium. Subsidized fuel is only supposed to be for middle to low income groups. The luxury cars are supposed to consume Pertamax,' the motorcyclist grumbled.
One of the attendants, Rizal, pointed out that he could not do much to prohibit private cars from buying Premium.
He said the supply of Pertamax in his gas station was abundant but that many still wanted
subsidized fuel.
'The Premium supply was decreasing so we had to open the motorcycle lane to cars as well,' he told The Jakarta Post.
On Tuesday, luxury cars queueing for Premium were, among others, a Toyota Camry, a Honda CRV and a Honda Freed. At the same time, no car was seen queuing in the Pertamax lane at the gas station. Instead, some motorcyclists bought Pertamax.
'This has been going on for a few days. We have told private car owners to buy Pertamax, but most of them refused,' Rizal said.
A gas station in Bantar Gebang witnessed the same increasing demand for Premium from
private cars.
'We still have an adequate supply of Pertamax, but Premium is dwindling,' an attendant, Yanto, said while serving several private cars queuing for Premium.
The recent trend has seen Bantar Gebang station prioritize Premium for motorcycles, forcing cars to buy Pertamax.
The trick sometimes worked, Yanto said, and several cars had switched to the Pertamax lane.
Sudrajat, an owner of a Toyota Camry, explained that he had bought Premium more often in the past week.
He said he usually mixed the fuel in his car: More than a half tank of cheaper Premium, with a smaller portion of Pertamax.
But after hearing about the decreasing supply of Premium, Sudrajat instead switched to full Premium before the cheap fuel ran out.
He was not worried about damaging his car due to using lower quality Premium.
'I have insured my car,' he explained. 'As long as the gas station allows private cars to buy Premium, then why not?'
