TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) believes that the public has the right to receive compensation from state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina related to the alleged mixing or adulteration of Pertamax fuel.

If the allegations prove to be true, LBH Jakarta Director Fadhil Alfathan stated that Pertamina consumers have the right to demand compensation. "The public has the right to receive recovery, starting from compensation to restitution," said Fadhil at the LBH Jakarta Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday, February 28, 2025.

According to Fadhil, there should be no discrepancy in the quality of products purchased by the public. "The quality should be guaranteed as well as the availability to the public," he said.

Fadhil highlighted the potential impacts and losses experienced by residents as the primary consumers of fuel. Therefore, he stated that residents have the right to take legal action if adulteration does indeed occur. "To get restitution and ensure that similar incidents do not happen again in the future," said Fadhil.

Currently, LBH Jakarta has opened a complaint post for the public who feel disadvantaged due to the alleged mixed Pertamax. As of February 28, 2025, LBH Jakarta has received at least 426 reports.

The alleged mixed Pertamax emerged after the Attorney General's Office named nine suspects in the oil import case. They include Director of Central Marketing and Commerce, Maya Kusmaya (MK); VP Trading Operation Pertamina Patra Niaga,  Edward Corne (EC); Patra Niaga President Director, Riva Siahaan; Director of Feedstock & Product Optimization of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), Sani Dinar Saifuddin; and Director of PT Pertamina International Shipping, Yoki Firnandi.

These Pertamina officials are suspected of blending Pertamax (RON 92) with Pertalite (RON 90). Pertamina Patra Niaga President Director Riva Siahaan, who was named as one of the suspects, is suspected to have procured RON 90 or lower while falsely claiming to have purchased RON 92. Subsequently, the RON 90 fuel is suspected of being adulterated or blended within storage facilities or depots to achieve RON 92.

Acting President Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Mars Ega Legowo Putra, denied the mixed Pertamax as accused by the Attorney General's Office. Ega explained that the fuel received by Pertamina Patra Niaga came from two main sources, namely domestic refineries and procurement from abroad. The product already had the appropriate RON value before being distributed.

Editor’s Choice: AGO Raids Pertamina Patra Niaga's Tanjung Gurem Fuel Terminal

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News