Pertalite Hits Rp20,000 in Putussibau as APINDO West Kalimantan Urges Pertamina to Act

PUTUSSIBAU, West Kalimantan - The price of Pertalite in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan, has surged in recent days, reaching as high as Rp20,000 per liter at retail kiosks.

The shortage has triggered long queues at several public fuel stations (SPBU) in Putussibau, the capital of Kapuas Hulu. Residents have been forced to wait for hours to purchase fuel at the official price.

Chairman of APINDO West Kalimantan, Eddy Suhita, has called on Pertamina's West Kalimantan leadership to visit the affected areas directly, assess the situation on the ground, and immediately seek a solution.

Field observations showed that vehicle queues had formed at Putussibau fuel stations as early as 6 a.m. Motorcycles, private cars, and goods-carrying vehicles lined up for their turn.

Many residents arrived hoping to fill their tanks. However, some were forced to return home empty-handed after Pertalite supplies ran out.

"I started queuing at 7 a.m., but by 10 a.m. the Pertalite was gone. I'm exhausted, the fuel is gone, and so is my time," one motorist said.

The shortage at official fuel stations contrasts sharply with the availability of Pertalite at retail kiosks, where the subsidized fuel is reportedly being sold for between Rp18,000 and Rp20,000 per liter.

"This is like making life harder for ordinary people. The official price is Rp10,000, but we are forced to pay Rp20,000. Wages are not increasing, while the cost of everything is rising because transportation costs are also going up," another resident said.

The situation has also raised concerns among the business community. Eddy Suhita said the shortage and soaring price of Pertalite in Kapuas Hulu required immediate attention.

According to Eddy, Kapuas Hulu, as a border region and one of Indonesia's disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas, should receive priority in the distribution of subsidized fuel.

"I urge Pertamina's West Kalimantan leadership to come to the field and see the situation firsthand. They need to identify what is causing Pertalite prices to reach Rp20,000 per liter," Eddy said.

He warned that if the shortage continues, it could have a domino effect on the regional economy, driving up logistics costs and prices of basic necessities while further weakening people's purchasing power.

Eddy called for concrete and immediate action from Pertamina and the local government.

"This is not a minor issue. It concerns the livelihood of many people. Please find a quick solution. We must not allow public frustration to escalate into street protests," he said.

Meanwhile, Kapuas Hulu Regent Fransiskus Diaan said the fuel shortage was partly caused by the declining water level of the Kapuas River during the dry season.

"The shortage is related to the dry weather. Fuel supplies from Pertamina in Pontianak to Sintang can no longer be transported by barge via the Kapuas River and must instead be delivered by road," he said when met at the Kapuas Hulu Regional Government SATAP Building in Putussibau on Monday (17/8/2026).

Kapuas Hulu normally obtains its fuel supplies from Pertamina's facility in Sintang. Under normal conditions, tanker trucks deliver fuel to Kapuas Hulu every day. However, due to the current situation, transporters from Kapuas Hulu have had to collect fuel directly from Pontianak.

"Normally, it takes one day. Now it takes two or even three days for the fuel to reach Putussibau," the regent said.

Fransiskus also urged all parties to show empathy amid the fuel shortage and refrain from taking excessive advantage of the situation.

"I urge those waiting in line not to hoard fuel. At a time like this, let us show empathy toward fellow residents who also need fuel. If anyone ignores this appeal and hoards fuel, I will coordinate with law enforcement, particularly the police, to take action in accordance with the law," he said.

The regent also called on Pertamina to increase the number of fuel transporters serving Kapuas Hulu.

"The additional transport capacity is intended to stabilize fuel supplies and prevent further shortages," Fransiskus concluded.

Source: putussibaupost.my.id