Pertamina Serves Energy for Remote Communities by Adding 5 One Price Fuel Points in Sulawesi
Bitung and Gorontalo, December 16, 2021 – Indonesia is an archipelagic country with some of the world's most complex energy distribution. There are still several locations in remote parts of Indonesia that do not have easy access to energy.
For this reason, the Government has launched the One Price Fuel program. Through this program, Pertamina is given the mandate to ensure the availability of energy, especially the availability of fuel in the outermost, behind, and underdeveloped areas (3T). Previously, this 3T area was an area that had not been touched by energy access due to difficult access.
In Indonesia, the One Price Fuel program is also implemented in the Sulawesi region. Sulawesi has the geographical characteristics of islands and mountains. Some areas are isolated because access to other places is blocked because of extreme terrain or is far from the mainland. It does not dampen Pertamina's steps to bring energy to the area at the same price as in urban areas.
On Tuesday (14/12), Pertamina and BPH Migas simultaneously inaugurated five One Price Fuel points in Sulawesi. Four One Price gasoline points at the Bitung Integrated Terminal in Bitung City, North Sulawesi Province, and 1 One Price fuel point at 76,96221 Sumalata District Petrol Station in North Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province, hosted the inaugural event.
BPH Migas Committee, Saleh Abdurrahman, VP Government Assignment of PT Pertamina (Persero), Edi Ariawan, Assistant II of North Sulawesi Provincial Secretariat, Praseno Hadi, Deputy Regent of Sitaro, John Palandung, and Head of Bappeda and Banggai Archipelago Research and Development, Muhammad Ari Susanto inaugurated four OnePrice Fuel stations at the Bitung Integrated Terminal.
Meanwhile, the Regent of North Gorontalo, Indra Yasin, the BPH Migas Committee, Wahyudi Anas, and Executive GM Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sulawesi, Agus Dwi Jatmoko inaugurated the 76,96221 One-Price Fuel station in Sumalata District, North Gorontalo Regency.
The Challenge of Fuel Distribution to One Price Fuel Locations in Sulawesi
One of the petrol stations that was inaugurated in North Sulawesi Province is SPBU 76.95813, South East Siau District, Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands, North Sulawesi Province. As we know, the distribution of fuel to North Sulawesi has quite a challenge with its distribution challenges. Shipping is very dependent on weather conditions, especially at the end of the year when rainfall is very high.
The distribution of fuel to the Sitaro Islands and the surrounding islands can take up to 2 days. If the weather is bad the delivery can take more than two days. Fuel delivery is carried out from the Bitung Integrated Terminal, where the ship used must be a large ship because the distribution is very challenging to navigate the Pacific Ocean. This large ship can also carry many cargoes of fuel in one distribution so that the distribution can be more efficient.
The presence of One Price Fuel in the Sitaro Islands will make it easier for people who work as fishermen and farmers to obtain fuel. Fishers and farmers no longer have to go far to find fuel in urban areas with the same price.
It is different from the challenges faced when distributing fuel to the islands. The challenge of fuel distribution to the Sumalata Sub-district in Gorontalo Province is quite challenging because of road access. The tank trucks with a capacity of 5 KL used by Pertamina to distribute fuel must pass through hilly terrain, small roads, and dangerous because it passes through hills and ravines. Not to mention, the area traversed along the journey of fuel distribution is an area prone to landslides and hilly terrain with a high elevation, so the crew of the tankers has to be extra careful.
One Price Fuel in Sumalata District makes it easier for people who work as fishermen and farmers to obtain fuel. Before the One Price Fuel, people bought fuel at retailers for IDR 10,000 – 15,000 per bottle for the Pertalite type of fuel. The distance for the nearest petrol station from Sumalata District is 73 km from a regular petrol station and 24 km from a fuel gas station. With the presence of One Price Fuel, fishers and farmers no longer have to look far for fuel to urban areas.
One Price Fuel, Government, and Pertamina's Commitment to Bring Energy Equity in Sulawesi
The BPH Migas Committee, Wahyudi Anas, said that the construction of One Price Fuel in the Sulawesi region brought subsidized fuel closer to the community.
"This one-price fuel station is targeted to be built in the 3T area. The Government hopes that with this program, everyone has the same fuel price. The current government fuel subsidy is Bio Solar, included in the JBT (Certain Types of Fuel) category at IDR 5,150 throughout Indonesia. It is so that we can lower and stabilize the price of fuel, which before the One Price Fuel Station might be sold by groups of people without permission and not according to regulations at high prices. Pertamina is here to prepare one-price fuel stations in the 3T category area," he said.
Anas added that the target for one-price fuel stations from 2017 to 2024 in Sulawesi itself is 58 points. "Hopefully, by bringing fuel access closer to the community through the One Price Fuel program, it will relieve the public from the burden of purchasing fuel, which was previously priced far above petrol stations, which could be up to IDR 10,000 – IDR 15,000 per liter or bottle. It is hoped that the community will be more efficient in obtaining fuel and support economic movement in the 3T area," he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Executive GM of Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sulawesi, Agus Dwi Jatmoko, said that the development of One Price Fuel is Pertamina's commitment to realizing energy justice and energy security in areas that have been difficult to reach. The achievement of all the distribution points is not easy to achieve during the pandemic and the geographical conditions in targeted areas.
Agus also added that from 2017 until now, 31 One Price Fuel points have been operating in the Sulawesi area, where the fuel sold is the same as the price at petrol stations. Pertamina bears all distribution costs to One Price Fuel stations. The nine additional points of One Price Fuel is Pertamina Patra Niaga's commitment to equal access to energy can be felt by the community.
"The achievement of One Price Fuel Station is inseparable from the support of the Government and good coordination from various parties, starting from BPH Migas, relevant local governments, Hiswana Migas to petrol station entrepreneurs. We hope that the community can benefit from the energy distribution through this program. Therefore, the economy continues to grow, especially in the 3T area, which was previously untouched or difficult to get access to energy," explained Agus.
Local Government Enthusiastically Welcomes One Price Fuel for the Regional Economy
The Regent of North Gorontalo, Indra Yasin, expressed his gratitude and gave his highest appreciation to the Government through Pertamina for building a OnePrice Fuel Station in Sumalata District. He revealed that the Samalata sub-district is 2 hours from the city center. "We can imagine that the people who own vehicles here, including fishers and farmers who need fuel, must have difficulties. With the One Price Fuel, this will drive the economic potential in this region because all economic sectors are in dire need of fuel," he said.
Indra also added that the One Price Fuel would make it easier for people to get fuel, be efficient in terms of time and save the costs that must be incurred. "Bringing fuel services closer is one of the government programs through Pertamina, which is very much needed by the community. Once again, on behalf of the local Government, I would like to thank the Government and Pertamina for the One Price Fuel program," he concluded.
In line with Indra, Assistant II of the Regional Secretariat of North Sulawesi Province, Praseno Hadi in his speech said the Government is grateful for the concern from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as well as the synergy from BPH Migas, Pertamina to the progress of national development in the region through the One Price Fuel program, especially for the people of North Sulawesi.
According to him, the development of One Price Fuel is supported by the Central Government and relevant stakeholders for the North Sulawesi region and other archipelagic regions in Indonesia. The goal of implementing this program is to take the community's domestic economic sector forward and improve the community's welfare.
"Since 2017, there have been 7 Distributors of One Price Fuel operating. All of them have had a real impact on the people of North Sulawesi in Melonguane District, Kabaruan District, Tagulandang District, Miangas District, Essang District, Nanusa District, and the South East Siau District is growing. Therefore, it is hoped that this momentum will strengthen synergy in efforts to make people on the island feel protected, feel justice, can meet their basic needs, and can become an independent community," he said.
The 5 locations of One Price Fuel Stations in Sulawesi inaugurated simultaneously on Tuesday (14/12) include:
- Petrol station 76.95813 South East Siau District, Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands, North Sulawesi Province
- Petrol Station 76,93318 Southeast Wawonii District, Konawe Islands Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province
- Petrol Station 76,94809 South Bulagi District, Banggai Islands Regency, Central Sulawesi Province
- Petrol Station 76,94808 North Banggai District, Banggai Islands Regency, Central Sulawesi Province
- Petrol Station 76,96221 Sumalata District, North Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province
If the public needs information about Fuel and LPG services, the public can also contact 24-hour customer service through Pertamina Call Center 135.**