Pertamina Launches Subsidized Fuel Card for Fishermen

Jakarta Globe, Rangga Prakoso, Nov 25, 2014

The subsidized fuel scheme has been tried out in Cilincing, North Jakarta,
since June. (Antara Photo/Saiful Bahri)

Jakarta. State-owned energy company Pertamina on Tuesday officially launched a subsidized fuel scheme especially for fishermen in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

Pertamina marketing and business director Hanung Budya said the program, which uses cards similar to those being issued for better access to education and health services, is intended to make sure the subsidized fuel ends up in the hands of the right people.

“Each boat only gets one card, with a particular quota of subsidized fuel set by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry,” Hanung said on Tuesday at a Cilincing fuel station for fishing vessels.

The program has been tried out since June in Cilincing. The filling station caters to 158 registered boats, and each is allocated around 288 kiloliter of subsidized diesel per month. With the card, each transaction is digitally monitored by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the local marine and fisheries agency, Pertamina and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

“To get the card, fishermen need to open a bank account [at BRI] and register the card with the local fisheries agency to obtain a fuel quota. Each card will mention the boat’s name, the owner’s name, and the monthly quota,” Hanung said. “The government can also use the card to monitor fishing activities and use it for further studies into fuel quotas.”

After Cilincing, Pertamina is planning to implement the system in other areas as well.

“Before the end of the year, we’d like to bring this card to Tegal, Central Java, and Lamongan in East Java. We’re targeting to register around 2,400 boats for this program,” Hanung said.