51 gas stations apply one price policy in Maluku, Papua

State-owned oil and gas holding company PT Pertamina has applied the one fuel price policy at 51 filling stations in Maluku, North Maluku, Papua, and West Papua provinces this year, the company's official stated, Friday.

Pertamina has achieved the government’s set target this year for the regions of Maluku and Papua, Pertamina's General Manager for the Maluku and Papua Marketing Operation Gema Iriandus Pahalawan informed journalists in Ambon on Friday.

Pahalawan explained that the one fuel price policy is being implemented in those targeted provinces as part of the government's strategies to lower fuel prices that remain high in several areas.

Fuel prices currently stand at between Rp10,000 and Rp30,000 per liter.

To this end, Pertamina is attempting to stabilize the prices by operating four distribution agents, Pahalawan explained.

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The distribution agents are divided into four types -- APMS or compact filling stations, mini filling stations, regular filling stations, and modular filling stations -- based on the condition of the areas. The size of Maluku and Papua's territories is forecast to be similar to one-third of Indonesia's.

However, the availability of fuel distribution agents there is less than those in other islands, especially Java. Hence, Pertamina is striving to increase the number of fuel distribution agents in Maluku and Papua owing to the resulting reduction in prices.

The company is also attempting to increase the number of storage tanks in Wamaye Village, Ambon Bay Sub-district, Ambon, Maluku Province, as well as in Sorong, Papua Province, he noted.

President Joko Widodo first launched the one fuel price policy in Yahukimo, Papua Province, on Oct 18, 2016, to enable Indonesians throughout the archipelago to enjoy relatively similar fuel prices.

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Reporter: Penina FM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati