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Pertamina to operate aircraft for fuel distribution in Papua
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Members of the Samara Paragliding Club Community practice at a hill in Cyclops Mountain in Jayapura regency in Papua on June 19. (Antara/Rosa Panggabean)
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tate-owned energy firm Pertamina plans to operate a dedicated aircraft to support fuel distribution to remote areas in Papua starting in September.
Pertamina is currently using aircraft from private airliner Trigana Air to deliver fuel to several areas in Papua such as Wamena, Jayawijaya and Lanny Jaya regencies, the company's vice president of corporate communications Wianda Pusponegoro said on Monday. However, the limited Trigana flights have made regular deliveries difficult, causing fuel supply shortages in the country's easternmost region.
Therefore, Pertamina is considering leasing or purchasing a cargo aircraft specifically for more regular fuel delivery, she added.
Pertamina uses land, water and air transportation to distribute fuel in the challenging terrain of Papua, which contributes to the high cost of distribution there, she added. The energy firm spends more than Rp 34.34 billion (US$2.6 million) a month to deliver fuel to Papua province and Rp 5.4 billion to West Papua province.
However, the company sells the fuel in Papua at the same price as other parts of Indonesia, despite spending more on fuel distribution.
Pertamina began fuel distribution via air to Indonesia's northernmost area, Krayan district in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, earlier this month. Renting air tractor aircraft from private airliner Susi Air, Pertamina delivered its first 1,000 liters of diesel to Krayan. (rin)
