Coal Trucks Banned from Getting Subsidized Diesel Fuel: Pertamina

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State oil and gas firm Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati stressed that the law did not permit the filling of subsidized diesel fuel in coal trucks at all public gas stations.

"This is because coal transport trucks constituted a large industry that did not receive diesel subsidies from the government," Widyawati remarked during her visit to Jambi on Saturday.

Hence, she said, Pertamina will reconsider existing policies and establish new business schemes in facing the trend of coal trucks whose numbers are currently growing rapidly in Jambi Province.

Widyawati undertook a working visit to Jambi to also ensure the availability of fuel supply ahead of the Ramadan month. According to the president director, the thriving business of coal in Jambi should not be taken for granted.

"We must anticipate the need for fuel and LPG in Jambi during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Hence, I along with the Jambi governor, chief of the regional police, Jambi Provincial Legislative Assembly Head, and the mayor inspected two gas stations," she noted.

According to Widyawati, five gas stations in Jambi are specially arranged to serve coal transport trucks so as not to add to the long queues at gas stations.

Moreover, Pertamina has increased the number of fuel dispensers with nozzles to speed up the movement of trucks that queue up to be filled with diesel fuel, she noted.

"Pertamina has also prepared 15 mobile gas station vehicles, of which five have been mobilized at the locations and will soon be coordinated to determine the location of their operations. The 15 cars have a capacity of 5,000 l and 16,000 l," Widyawati explained.

She expressed optimism that both the Jambi authority and society would supervise and report the falsely targeted use of subsidized fuel.

Read: Lawmaker Calls for Sanctions on Industrial Actors Using Subsidized Fuel

ANTARA