"It is hoped that the Eid holiday would be smooth with stocks of premium, diesel, dex, pertamax, and other fuel oils being sufficient for 20 days at an average," Deputy Minister of Energy Arcandra Tahar said while inspecting fuel oil terminal in Sei-Siak, Riau province in Sumatra, along with Riau governor Arsyadjuliandi Rachman and marketing director of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Muhammad Iskandar.
He stated that the stock demand for fuel oils in the Eid holiday would be met, especially in Pertaminas Marketing Operation Region I covering Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, and Riau Islands provinces in Sumatra.
"I think this will be sufficient. It does not mean that oils would run out within 20 days, but it means stock will be maintained at the same level every day," he noted.
With regard to his meeting with Pertamina officials of Sei-Siak terminal, he remarked that no vulnerable problems had been noticed so far with regard to oil stock.
He revealed that last year, there were reports of stock problem due to increasing demand, but Pertamina was able to overcome it.
"The problem encountered last year has been anticipated for this year too," he said, referring to a report, for example, from the governor of Riau that there was a shortage of supply in the three-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas container. "If there is a shortage, we will increase the supply," he revealed.
Arcandra hoped that all process of fuel oil distribution would be smooth to meet the holiday season, and Sei-Siak terminal, if possible, could also supply West Sumatra to assure no shortage that could cause bigger demand.
"I hope it will be smooth. The governor and I, as well as a team in Jakarta, will keep monitoring it," he explained.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
