Pertamina raises fuel supply

JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina said it had raised its fuel stocks to guarantee supply throughout the country during and after the general election.

"We have set up task forces, as we do ahead of Christmas and Lebaran holidays, to secure the distribution of fuel during the general election," the state company said here yesterday.

The general election to elect members of the House of Representatives will be held today.

Pertamina said it would coordinate fuel distribution with concerned government agencies.

It said Indonesia's fuel consumption rose six percent to 47.5 billion liters in the 1996/97 fiscal year ending March 31. It is estimated to reach 50.9 billion liters in the current 1997/98 fiscal year.

This fiscal year it will import about 10 billion liters of fuel products.

Pertamina has eight refineries in Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan, with a combined capacity of 989,500 barrels a day. (bnt)