Officials give differing figures on fuel smuggling<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Consistent with the recent flow of inconsistencies, an
\nofficial at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources issued
\non Thursday a new figure for fuel smuggling, which is much lower
\nthan the figures released by other officials.<\/p>\n
Director General of Oil and Gas Rachmat Sudibyo stated that
\nfuel smuggling had cost the government as much as US$3 trillion
\nper year.<\/p>\n
Rachmat estimated that about three million kiloliters, out of
\nthe total 56 million kiloliters for national fuel consumption,
\nwere smuggled annually, with smugglers earning approximately Rp
\n1,000 per liter.<\/p>\n
\"So, financial losses to the state are estimated at Rp 3
\ntrillion\", he was quoted by www.detik.com, as saying, while on a
\ntour of gas stations along Java's northern coast.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Rachmat mentioned that the fuel types likely to
\nbe smuggled were diesel fuel and kerosene. Whereas premium was
\nimpossible to be smuggled.<\/p>\n
National diesel fuel consumption amounts to 20 million
\nkiloliters per annum, while kerosene consumption reaches 10
\nmillion kiloliters.<\/p>\n
Rachmat's statement on his estimate of the loss from fuel
\nsmuggling came days after state oil and gas company Pertamina
\npresident Baihaki Hakim announced on Monday that financial losses
\nfrom fuel smuggling had reached US$600 million (Rp 6 trillion)
\nper annum.<\/p>\n
Much earlier, Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dorodjatun
\nKuntjoro-Jakti disclosed that national losses from fuel smuggling
\nwere Rp 57 trillion per year.<\/p>\n
According to Baihaki, Dorodjatun's argument was based on data
\nfrom the Ministry of Fishery and Maritime Affairs.<\/p>\n
In addition, Baihaki explained that his calculation was based
\non Pertamina's supply of 33 million kiloliters of automotive
\ndiesel oil per year.<\/p>\n
He estimated that ten percent of the 33 million kiloliters of
\ndiesel fuel worth $600 were smuggled.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chief of the joint team on fuel distribution,
\nSlamet Singgih, said his team had tried its best to suppress fuel
\nsmuggling, but many officers in the field had not supported the
\nteam wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n
\"If all officers acted resolutely, I'm sure that national
\nfinancial losses in 2002 could be reduced by 50 percent,\" Slamet
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/officials-give-differing-figures-on-fuel-smuggling-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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