Jakarta – The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) says the revision of a presidential regulation (Perpres) on procurement, distribution and retail prices of subsidized fuels has failed to solve the fuel scarcity problem affecting fishermen.

The KNTI says that its members in many parts of the country have found it difficult to buy subsidized Solar diesel fuel and Premium gasoline to operate their fishing boats.

"As of the issuance of this press release, traditional fishermen across the country still find difficulty in accessing both Solar and Premium based on the national price standards," said the KNTI in a press release on Monday.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued Perpres No. 43/2018 as a revision to Perpres No. 191/2014 on the procurement, distribution and retail prices of subsidized fuels to address the scarcity of subsidized fuels.

The government set the price of Premium and Solar at Rp 6,550 (47 US cents) and Rp 5,150 per liter.

Meanwhile, the KNTI said fuel prices in a number of regions were higher, claiming that in fishermen villages in Surabaya, East Java, Premium was sold at Rp 9,000, while Solar at Rp 8,000. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/06/05/fishermen-complain-about-fuel-scarcity.html