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Gasoline price in Papua remains normal, Pertamina claims
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Several cars fill up on gasoline at the SPBU (gas station) Kompak belonging to state-owned energy firm PT. Pertamina in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua. (Pertamina Region I Papua/Agung Wibowo)
State-owned energy firm PT. Pertamina brushed off reports over soaring fuel prices in Wamena in Jayawijaya regency, Papua.
Fuel supply in Wamena, as well as in all other regencies in Papua, was normal and prices were stable, Pertamina’s Marketing Operation Region (MOR) VIII stated.
Previously, Wamena residents said a liter of subsidized premium gasoline was sold for up to Rp 50,000 (US$3.70) at non-Pertamina sellers.
But Pertamina MOR VIII retail market manager Zibali Hisbul said fuel in Papua was still sold at the normal price: Rp 6,450 per liter for Premium, Rp 5,150 per liter for diesel fuel and Rp 2,500 per liter for kerosene.
“Those who sell at higher prices are [non-Pertamina] sellers, and Pertamina doesn’t have the authority to regulate fuel sales at that level as it is the local administration who has the authority,” he told The Jakarta Post in Jayapura on Tuesday.
Read also: Pertamina struggles to put policy into action
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s one-price fuel policy has been implemented in Papua since Oct. 18, 2016.
Fuel stocks in SPBU (gas station) Kompak in Jayawijaya had never run out. Residents purchase fuel with coupons issued by the Industry and Trade Agency, he said.
Jayawijaya Police Chief Adj.Sr.Comr. Yan Piet Reba said the police had held a meeting with the relevant stakeholders to discuss soaring fuel prices at non-Pertamina sellers.
Yan suggested the price increase could have been linked to rumors that say a recent cargo plane accident in Wamena could result in a shortage of fuel supplies in the area. (afr/bbs)
