LPG used for cars

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana launched yesterday the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for motor vehicles, which he said is 50 percent cheaper than gasoline.

"This is part of the government's program to reduce the use of oil fuel and decrease air pollution," he said.

PT Otogas Karya Pratama has been appointed the sole distributor of LPG for motor vehicle use and the pilot project of the LPG will cover 2,000 taxi cabs in major cities across the country.

Kris H. Sulisto, president of Otogas Karya, said that his company had invested about US$3 million for the establishment of ten LPG filling stations in various cities and the procurement of 2,000 converter kits from the Vialle company in the Netherlands.

Cars using LPG must be equipped with a converter sold by Otogas Karya at Rp 1.7 million (US$764) and will still be able to use gasoline.

Otogas Karya is 20-percent owned by the Ministry of Mines and Energy's employee foundation, 16 percent by Pertamina's employee foundation, and the remaining 64 percent by businessmen Pontjo Sutowo and Kris H. Sulisto.(04)