Based on information from Pertamina compiled by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday, the scarcity was the result of alleged utilization of three kg LPG by farmers for burning tobacco after harvest for drying.
Manager of Communication & MOR IV CSR Unit of PT Pertamina (Persero) Andar Titi Lestari noted that indications of difficulties faced by residents in obtaining three kg LPG in Temanggung District, Central Java Province, was purely due to an increase in demand during the tobacco harvest season, during which subsidized LPG was used by farmers to dry tobacco or commonly called "omprongan."
In fact, he noted that the government had earlier appealed to farmers to use coal ovens, palm shells, candlenut shells, turi wood, or 12 kilograms of LPG for this "stretching" activity since the fuel requirement was quite high and could disrupt the supply of three kg LPG in the region.
"We have prepared a facultative addition of 18,480 cylinders during this period. For instance, today, given the addition of 1,667 cylinders, so the total distribution today in Temanggung reaches 23,320 cylinders of the average daily normal distribution in Temanggung District, which is 21,643 cylinders per day," Lestari explained.
Pertamina had earlier made facultative additions of 17,803 cylinders in the Temanggung area that were distributed this week. As the normal allocation is 541,080 cylinders per month, Pertamina has channeled 559,560 cylinders to the Temanggung area this month.
Pertamina is always ready to cater to the LPG requirements of the community. The policy on the three kg LPG distribution is different from that of non-PSO where Pertamina follows ESDM Ministerial Regulation No. 26 of 2009 on LPG Supply and Distribution.
"It has been regulated in Article 18-20 on the distribution of LPG and certain LPG users, in this case, is the three kg LPG," he noted.
The aspect of supervision should be reconsidered by involving the relevant security forces.
"For supervision, we really need the participation of the regional government and Police. We invite and appeal to all sections of society to participate in realizing the distribution of subsidized LPG that is right on target," Lestari noted.
Reporting by Afut Syafril Nursyirwan
Editing by Eliswan, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
