Jakarta (ANTARA) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif visited several facilities in Cilacap, Central Java, to ensure the fuel supplies and distribution ahead of Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024.

During the visit to the PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI) Refinery Unit IV on Thursday (December 21), he urged business entities to be ready to provide fuel supplies and distribute them to the community.

"Make being vigilant a habit. Remind each other and cooperate well," Tasrif said, according to a statement released by the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) here on Friday.

The minister stressed that fuel supplies must be ready at all times and not only during Christmas and New Year.

He also expected business entities to anticipate long queues at gas stations during the year-end period.

"Gas station officers' skills in filling the gas to meet the needs should be increased. They must be healthy, (and) if they are tired, take over. Traffic jams on roads can also be the result of vehicles queuing up at gas stations. Pay attention to the layout of pump stations," he pointed out.

Tasrif also called on business entities to be efficient in managing fuel, with the benefits of lower cost of production and more profits.

"(With efficiency), it can reduce the government's burden of subsidized fuel. If it can decrease, the budget can be used to increase people's welfare," he said.

Head of BPH Migas Erika Retnowati, who accompanied Minister Tasrif, said that during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the challenge is not about fuel supply but the distribution.

She ensured that fuel stocks during the holidays were safe.

"But (the challenge is) about how the supplies can reach the gas stations and how to distribute them well to the communities," she explained.

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Translator: Kelik D, Kenzu
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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