T

he Papuan Police have assigned 50 of their personnel to a special task force to monitor the distribution and pricing of fuel following the launch of the one-price fuel policy in October by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“The taskforce will monitor the fuel distribution in Papua to make sure that the price is as decided by the President and a supply is available in each gas station,” Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said last week.

The 50-strong team would also collect data on problems found on the ground, he said. In their operation, the team would act in synergy with the military, local administrations and state oil and gas company Pertamina.

With the single-price policy, the price of fuel in Papua and West Papua, which previously cost up to tens of thousands of rupiah per liter, is being held at the same price as applied in the rest of the country.

The implementation of the policy is being backed by Bank Indonesia through the distribution of around Rp 15 billion (US$1.1 million) in coins and small bank notes to 19 regencies in Papua during November and December.