Pertamina Responds to Pertalite Purchase Restrictions in Luwu Utara

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Indonesia's state-owned energy company, has responded to the Luwu Utara Regency government's policy in South Sulawesi that restricts Pertalite purchases at all gas stations. Pertamina stated that such local government policies are permissible as part of efforts to adjust fuel distribution to regional conditions. Roberth MV Dumatubun, Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, explained that the core objective of these policies is to ensure fuel distribution reaches its intended recipients and to maintain energy sufficiency. He mentioned that other regions have also implemented similar fuel distribution adjustments based on their specific circumstances, stressing the need to prevent the diversion of subsidized fuel. He provided an example from South Sumatra, where local authorities managed queues for diesel fuel by directing large trucks to designated gas stations outside urban centers to avoid traffic disruption. Dumatubun characterized these as "innovative policies" that regional governments can enact following their own evaluations, provided they are executed effectively. Dumatubun further elaborated that variations in gas station size and operational capacity, including whether they serve both diesel and gasoline, should be considered. He suggested that local governments could implement measures like designating specific refueling points to manage queues and prevent obstruction of public thoroughfares. On a national level, Pertamina affirmed its continued commitment to government regulations for subsidized fuel distribution, which include the 'right subsidy' program and the use of barcode systems. Earlier, the Luwu Utara Regency government had issued a decree on September 9th, setting a purchase limit for Pertalite at Rp35,000 per motorcycle and Rp200,000 per car. The policy also requires the use of barcodes linked to vehicle registration numbers for all fuel purchases. Ambulances and hearses are exempted from these restrictions. The policy is also aligned with a circular from the Governor of South Sulawesi regarding the oversight and monitoring of subsidized fuel distribution at gas stations. The Regent of Luwu Utara emphasized that these directives are mandatory for gas station operators within the regency.