Jakarta – State-owned oil and gas holding company PT Pertamina would by the end of this year have established 123 one-price fuel stations – a government program to provide fuel to remote regions at prices similar to what are charged in Jakarta.
Pertamina vice president corporate communications Adiatma Sardjito said in Jakarta on Monday that the number exceeded the target set by the government.
The company opened 54 stations in 2017 and 69 in 2018, although the target was 67. Next year it plans to open another 29.
"With all the synergy, we managed to open more one-price fuel stations in 2018 although the target was higher than last year's," Adiatma said as quoted by Antara.
He said the fuel stations were opened in frontier, outermost and least developed regions, known as terdepan, terluar, tertinggal (3T) areas, in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua.
In Papua, the company operates 28 one-price fuel stations, in Kalimantan 27, on Sumatra 24, in Nusa Tenggara 15, in Sulawesi 14, in Maluku 11 and on Java and Bali four.
Adiatma said Pertamina transported the fuel using various modes of transportation: trucks, ships, small boats and airplanes.
"We have tried to distribute the fuels to the 3T continuously. It is Pertamina's commitment to supply fuels to all citizens across the country at the same price," he added.
Before the fuel stations were opened, fuel prices in remote areas of Papua, for example, could reach Rp 100,000 (US$6.93) per liter. Fuel in the new stations costs Rp 6,450 per liter for subsidized Premium-branded gasoline and Rp 5,150 per liter for subsidized Solar-branded diesel fuel. (bbn)