Jakarta –
The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) estimates that production cooking oil is now approaching the needs of the community. That way the problem of scarcity of cooking oil can be resolved at the end of March 2022.
This was conveyed by Inspector General of the Ministry of Trade Didid Noordiatmoko while monitoring the operation of the cooking oil market at Palembang’s Alang-Alang Lebar Market, Saturday, together with Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartanto and Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga.
“Supplies are actually available. This difference in needs is close to normal. By the end of this month, theoretically, it will be enough,” Didid said, quoted from BetweenSaturday (5/3/2022)
He gave an example of cooking oil producers in South Sumatra that currently produce 300 tons per month or are close to the needs of this area. Even if there is a difference, it is estimated that it is only 10 percent.
When asked why the scarcity of cooking oil was protracted, Didid said this was due to the complexity of the problem from upstream to downstream.
The government is gradually solving problems from production to distribution of cooking oil so that cooking oil can be obtained easily at an affordable price in the community.
However, according to Didid, a new problem arose which was the impact of rising prices and shortages of goods, namely panic buying. This situation occurred because people had difficulty getting cooking oil at an affordable price, so they ended up buying it in large quantities when the opportunity arose.
In fact, Didid added, research results say the need for cooking oil per person is only 0.8-1 liter per month. This means that now many households stock cooking oil. “But this is only indicated,” said Didid.
While waiting for the stability between demand and availability of these goods, the government will conduct market operations in every regency/city in South Sumatra starting next week.
In this market operation, the public can buy cooking oil at a price according to the Highest Retail Price (HET), for premium packaged cooking oil of Rp. 14,000 per liter, simple packaging of cooking oil of Rp. 13,500 per liter, and bulk oil of Rp. 11,500 per liter.
(hns / hns)
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