SBY issues decree on fuel saving measures<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono instructed officials in
\ncentral and local government institutions to issue directives
\nrequiring the saving of fuel.<\/p>\n
The Presidential Instruction No. 10\/2005 on energy
\nconservation was signed during a Cabinet meeting, which was also
\nattended by executives of state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina and
\n33 governors, at the State Palace on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said the instruction
\nwould require government offices to reduce power consumption on
\nair conditioners, lighting and office appliances, and the use of
\nofficial vehicles.<\/p>\n
The instruction also states that local governments should
\npromote the program among the public and private sector in their
\nrespective jurisdictions, and issue regulations establishing a
\nprogressive vehicle taxation system.<\/p>\n
\"These fuel conservation efforts are not aimed at reducing
\neconomic activity. They will only impinge somewhat on our comfort
\nat the office. It is better to allocate subsidies to drive the
\ncountry's economy than to burn them up keeping ourselves
\ncomfortable,\" said Andi.<\/p>\n
Government and state officials will be allowed to issue their
\nown directives for fuel conservation in their respective
\ninstitutions, including reviewing civil service uniforms to help
\nthem better cope with the heat, he added.<\/p>\n
Based on the instruction, government officials will be
\nrequired to report on the progress of their programs to the
\nPresident via the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources every
\nsix months.<\/p>\n
Energy minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the instruction was
\nexpected to be followed up by a number of regulations and
\ndirectives on fuel conservation from ministers, governors,
\nregents, bureaucrats and executives of state and local government
\nowned enterprises.<\/p>\n
\"With every part of government working to issue fuel-
\nconservation directives, we are upbeat that we can reduce fuel
\nconsumption by between 5 percent and 10 percent, or at least keep
\nit in line with this year's quota,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government has set a quota of 59.69 million kiloliters for
\ndomestic fuel consumption this year, with fuel subsidies expected
\nto cost Rp 76.5 trillion (US$7.88 billion).<\/p>\n
But demand for fuel rose by 10 percent in the first semester.
\nThis is of concern the government -- particularly with global oil
\nprices hovering at $61 per barrel -- as additional fuel subsidy
\nspending will further strain the already over-stretched state
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Pertamina president director Widya Purnama said the country's
\nfuel stocks currently stood at 19 days, less than the safe level
\nof 22 days' supply. The firm is, however, upbeat that stocks will
\nbe back to normal by the middle of this month.<\/p>\n
Gas stations across the country have been running short of
\nsupplies for two last two weeks after Pertamina cut back on its
\nfuel supplies around the country so as not to overshoot the
\ngovernment-set quota.<\/p>\n
Seven cities are still experiencing fuel shortages -- Krueng
\nRaya in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Pulau Bay and Maumere in East
\nNusa Tenggara, Pangkalan Bun in Kalimantan, Luwuk in South
\nSulawesi, Paregi in Sulawesi and Merauke in Papua. These cities,
\nwhich are all remote, have only enough fuel supplies for three
\ndays.<\/p>\n
Widya said Pertamina had sent a number of tanker ships to
\nthese areas, which were expected to arrive in port by the middle
\nof this month.<\/p>\n
\"The fuel shortages will be over soon. Pertamina has secured
\n80 percent of its fuel supplies for August and 60 percent for
\nSeptember. There is nothing to worry about,\" he said.<\/p>",
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