State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina for East Nusa Tenggara slashed its kerosene quota for the region this year in accordance with the policy of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas).

“It is true that the kerosene quota has declined in accordance with BPH Migas’ directive and policy. As an operator, we only perform duty in accordance with the specified quota,” PT Pertamina’s Sales Branch Manager for East Nusa Tenggara, Muhammad Herdiansyah Putra, stated on Thursday.

Putra noted that the kerosene quota for East Nusa Tenggara this year had declined by 2.02 percent, or 3,791 kiloliters, to 104,990 kiloliters, from 108,781 kiloliters a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the kerosene quota for November and December 2022 alone had dropped by 16.19 percent, to 15,865 kiloliters, as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Putra said BPH Migas had reviewed the kerosene quota for the region. As the operator, Pertamina is awaiting further directives from BPH Migas.

“We are still waiting for further directives,” he noted.

According to monitoring conducted at several kerosene depots, scores of residents queued up for kerosene since morning.

Fitri, a kerosene depot owner, said she sold kerosene for Rp20 thousand per liter, as kerosene supply from Pertamina had declined.

“Since the supply from Pertamina declines, we raise its price,” she noted.

Source: Antara News