A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Dozens of bajaj (three-wheeled taxi) drivers staged a rally in front of City Hall on Friday morning, demanding the administration provide more compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations (SPBGs).

The drivers of the CNG-powered vehicles complained there was a lack of SPBGs in the city. "In the worst case we have to wait [in line] for up to six hours [to refill the bajaj]," driver Narsudi, 35, said during the protest.

He said he usually worked around ITC Mangga Dua in North Jakarta, but because of the lack of an SPBG, he frequently had to refuel his vehicle on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta, on Jl. Pramuka in East Jakarta or in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.

One of the coordinators of the demonstration, Nasikin, said that over the past week, several gas stations had malfunctioned and the drivers had to compete with gas-fueled Transjakarta buses despite bajaj being more consistent in using the environment friendly CNG.

According to the Jakarta Transportation Agency, 10,955 bajaj use CNG with only 86 not having yet switched to gas. Meanwhile, 22 angkot minivans and 2,360 taxis have switched to gas. Of the total 2,150 Transjakarta buses operating in the city, only 370 use gas.

There are currently 18 SPBGs operating in the city, they are managed by PT Pertamina Retail, a subsidiary of state-owned gas company PT Pertamina; state-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN); PT Jakarta Utilitas Propertindo (JUP), a subsidiary of city-owned PT Jakarta Propertindo; and a private gas company PT T Energy.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/11/30/bajaj-drivers-demand-more-gas-stations.html