Residents of Paser Regency, East Kalimantan, are facing a sharp surge in the price of Pertalite fuel at retail levels. In Tanah Grogot District, the price of this commodity reportedly breached Rp16,000 per liter, while Pertamax reached up to Rp19,000 per liter. This condition puts significant economic pressure on the community, particularly online transport workers.
Fani, a local online motorcycle taxi driver, revealed that he was forced to buy fuel at high prices due to the difficulty of getting access at public refueling stations (SPBU). According to him, snaking queues at gas stations are triggered by the actions of fuel scalpers—parties who abuse subsidies for personal gain. "Buying at the gas station is also difficult, the queue is very long because of scalpers," Fani said.
Based on field data, Paser Regency has six gas stations spread across several strategic points, including Long Kali, Kuaro, Batu Sopang, Pasir Belengkong, and two locations in Tanah Grogot District. Although PT Pertamina has set the official price of Pertalite at Rp10,000 per liter, disrupted distribution has caused retail prices to spiral out of control, even in areas close to gas stations.
This price imbalance directly impacts the daily expenses of residents whose income remains fixed without any increase. This phenomenon raises public concerns about similar conditions occurring in more remote, hard-to-reach areas.
Responding to this situation, residents urge authorities to immediately crack down on fuel scalpers. It is hoped that with stricter supervision at gas stations, fuel distribution can return to normal and retail prices can be brought down to a more reasonable level, around Rp12,000 per liter.
