Pertamina appeals court decision over premix mixing case

State oil and gas firm Pertamina's domestic storage and domestic marketing III office (UPDN III) has filed an appeal with the Jakarta High Court over the Jakarta Administrative Court's decision that ordered Pertamina to restore the rights of distributor company PT Panutan Selaras as fuel distributor for Pertamina.

The spokesman for UPDN III, Awi Adil, said on Thursday that the court declared Pertamina's suspension over Panutan's rights as its distributor was illegal as it was signed by unauthorized person.

But Awi argued that the suspension letter was signed by the authorized person. He contended that UPDN III chief Tuty Anggrahini was authorized by Pertamina's director for domestic marketing Harry Poernomo to suspend Panutan's distribution rights for three months until August 25.

Pertamina punished Panutan and nine other distributors companies by not allowing them to transport its fuels for various violations. Panutan, according to Pertamina, mixed premix with other substances before it is transported to gas stations.

But Panutan filed a lawsuit against Pertamina at the Jakarta Administrative Court. The court issued a by-law ruling that ordered Pertamina to restore Panutan's rights as fuel distributor. But Pertamina did not heed the ruling.

Awi said that Pertamina did not heed the ruling because it was handed down three days before the court hearing.

Pertamina remains at its decision not to give distribution rights to Panutan until a definite decision from the court, arguing that if it allows Panutan to transport its crude, nine other companies that received the same penalties from Pertamina would demand the same thing. (*)