"Pertamina needs to give sanctions to cheater gas stations which sell subsidized diesel fuel to industries," he said.
Previously the government through the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued a regulation banning official cars belonging to state-owned companies (BUMN) and regional-owned enterprises (BUMD) from using subsidized fuel.
Moreover, the regulation prohibits industries to use subsidized diesel fuel.The industrial sector such as mining, agriculture and wooden factories must use non-subsidized diesel fuel.
However, Sukardi said the buyers of subsidized diesel fuel in Riau were mostly industry vehicles. As a result, non-subsidized fuel are not sold.
According to him, the threat of heavy sanctions will provide business certainty for fuel stations. They should be firm so that non-subsidized diesel in the stations will be on good sale.
He also stressed the importance of controlling the implementation of regulation. "The regulation will be useless if it is not controlled."
Freddy Anwar, head of Pertamina for Riau and West Sumatra said that Pertamina could not impose the sanctions firmly.
"Only downstream oil and gas regulatory agency (BPH Migas) and local governments can monitor the regulation," he said.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Regulation has been effective as of March 1.
Freddy said regulation could not be implemented transparently in Riau.
There are 129 fuel stations all over Riau, including ten belonging to Pertamina.
(A061/A014)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
