Pertamax Allegedly Adulterated, Consumers Can Sue Pertamina Patra Niaga

“In this case, consumers were promised the more expensive RON 92 Pertamax but instead received the lower RON 90 Pertalite,” said Mufti Mubarok, Chairman of BPKN RI, in an official broadcast quoted on Wednesday (26/2).

He added that referring to the Consumer Protection Law (UUPK), compensation claims can be filed through a lawsuit mechanism as regulated by law, one of which is a Class Action.

The government and related agencies can also file lawsuits, considering the losses will be very large and the number of victims is not small.

Furthermore, BPKN urges all authorities to thoroughly investigate the case and punish the suspects as severely as possible. Pertamina is also asked to be transparent in providing honest information to consumers regarding the quality of its fuel.

Photo : Pertamina

“BPKN is open to consumers who want to report or consult on this issue. We are ready to provide assistance and help consumers fight for their rights,” Mufti affirmed.

Alleged Adulteration and the Case of Dozens of Damaged Cars in Cibinong

Towards the end of 2024, a recording went viral of several cars breaking down after being filled with Pertamax fuel, specifically in the Cibinong area. At that time, Pertamina immediately conducted an investigation with ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology).

Two brands were affected, namely Toyota and Daihatsu. Car owners even had to drain their fuel tanks at a considerable cost, around Rp 500 thousand and up.

Photo : Pertamina

The cars affected by the incident were varied. Ranging from old Kijangs to the newest 2023 Raize and Agya models.

Both brands are still reluctant to disclose the specific cause further. Meanwhile, Pertamina claims there are no significant problems with the fuel they market.

Indeed, it is not yet clear whether the damage is related to the alleged fuel adulteration described by the Attorney General's Office. However, it is certain that consumers have suffered both material and time losses.