Rebuilding Public Confidence: The Major Challenge for Pertamina
The President Director of Pertamina, Simon Aloysius Mantiri, has openly admitted that the company’s biggest and most urgent challenge is the restoration of public trust, particularly following a recent fuel adulteration scandal involving one of its subsidiaries.
“We must be honest, open, and transparent,” Simon stated in response to reporters’ questions at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
He acknowledged that the ongoing legal issues related to governance at the state-owned enterprise have become a significant concern for everyone associated with the company and the Indonesian public.
“I humbly acknowledge that due to this adulteration case, public trust in Pertamina has declined. This is a major task for us, and we must work hard to win back public confidence,” he added, directly positioning the restoration of consumer faith as his primary mission.
Simon detailed that the company is currently implementing a comprehensive set of corrective measures.
These steps include a thorough review of all existing governance practices and directly addressing identified weaknesses to effectively eliminate loopholes for misconduct and corruption.
He emphasized that strengthening governance and ensuring greater transparency are the immediate priorities.
The goal is to make Pertamina’s reform efforts visible and verifiable to the public. Through this transparent approach, the company aims to demonstrate its commitment to change and subsequently deliver the best possible service to Indonesian society, thereby gradually rebuilding the fractured trust in the national energy provider.
Implementing Corrective Measures and Addressing Market Competition
Pertamina is focusing internally on strengthening governance to prevent future scandals while also acknowledging and accepting the public’s right to choose fuel from competitors as market dynamics shift the landscape of energy sales.
Simon Aloysius Mantiri’s plan for the path forward centers on robust internal reform.
He stressed, “First and foremost, we must strengthen governance and ensure greater transparency. This way, the public can see that Pertamina’s reform efforts are ongoing.”
This strategic focus aims to correct the systemic failures that enabled the adulteration scandal to occur within the Pertamina structure.
He also addressed the increasing market competition, specifically commenting on the decision by some consumers to purchase fuel from private gas stations rather than from Pertamina outlets.
His response was pragmatic and non-confrontational: “That is a choice made by the public. We cannot forbid it, because it is their right, and ultimately it will depend on the consumers themselves.”
This recognition of consumer autonomy highlights the reality that the company operates in an increasingly competitive environment where service quality and product integrity are paramount to maintaining market share.
Simon pledged that Pertamina would continue working hard to enhance its service quality and produce higher-quality products.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to earning stronger public support through tangible improvements in operations and product standards, recognizing that regaining consumer loyalty requires persistent, measurable effort.
Pertamina’s Strategic Role and Reporting to the President
The President Director’s meeting with President Prabowo Subianto underscores Pertamina’s strategic importance as Indonesia’s largest state-owned energy enterprise, which plays a critical role in national energy security and economic development.
The seriousness of the company’s challenges and its strategic value to the nation were evident when Simon attended a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
This high-level meeting was held to report directly on Pertamina’s overall performance and address the current issues facing the company.
The meeting concluded late on Friday evening, just before the President departed for his overseas trip to Japan and the United States.
As Indonesia’s state-owned enterprise engaged in integrated energy, Pertamina covers everything from upstream to downstream operations.
Its extensive business activities include exploration, production, processing, distribution, and marketing of oil and gas, as well as managing other vital energy ventures.
As the largest energy company in the country, Pertamina plays a fundamental and strategic role in meeting the nation’s diverse energy needs, which is a matter of national security.
Simultaneously, it is responsible for driving the growth and managing the performance of its various subholdings, making its stability and governance essential to the broader Indonesian economy.
The meeting with the President reinforces that the reforms underway are not just internal corporate matters but are of paramount national interest.
