Anton Hermansyah, Puncak Jaya Mulia – Security concerns following the election riots in Tolikara regency, Papua, are hampering deliveries to mountainous areas in the province, the such as Puncak Jaya and Wamena regencies, the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister said on Monday.
"The logistic trucks have to take a detour because of security issues. It took about three days before, but now it takes five days or even longer," SOEs Minister Rini Mariani Soemarno said on Monday in Mulia, Puncak Jaya.
Several SOEs have been assigned by President Joko Widodo to reduce the price of basic commodities, including cooking oil, cement and fuel, in the mountainous Papuan regencies.
The price of cement used to be Rp 2 million (US$147.8) per sack, while fuel cost Rp 50,000 per liter and cooking oil cost Rp 50,000 per liter, the minister said.
"Cement is now sold for Rp 500,000 per sack, fuel is the same price as in Java at Rp 6,900 per liter, and cooking oil is Rp 33,000 per liter," she said, thanking Pertamina, PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia and PT Semen Tonasa for their cooperation in lowering the commodities' prices.
Local residents have confirmed the situation, saying that deliveries of basic goods were disrupted because of security concerns.
Daeng Ewa, a motorcycle taxi driver, said that gasoline was growing scarce in recent months, as it was delivered only once every three to five days. (bbn)