Pertamina to contruct 52 gas filling stations

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina plans to set up 52 gas filling stations across the country in the next two years, the company said.

Pertamina president Faisal Abda'oe said the company was building 20 gas filling stations during the current 1997/1998 fiscal year and would build another 32 stations in 1998/1999.

He did not mention the locations of the gas stations.

There are currently 16 gas filling stations in operation, including 14 in Jakarta and two in the East Java capital, Surabaya.

Faisal said the development of the new gas stations was in line with the government's anti-pollution program, called the Blue Sky program.

The program, which was launched last year, aims to replace the use of leaded gasoline with compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LPG) or unleaded gasoline.

President Soeharto has ordered Pertamina to phase out the use of leaded gasoline by 1999.

Lead, used to increase gasoline's octane power, is one of the most harmful pollutants. Consumption of lead particles in the cardiovascular system has been found to harm the nervous system and cause other health problems.

Pertamina has introduced unleaded gasoline called Super TT and so far its sales have been successful.

Faisal said recently that Pertamina had tried to boost the sale of Super TT, making it available at 35 gas stations across Jakarta this year, compared with eight gas stations last year.

Super TT costs Rp 975 (19 US cents) per liter, slightly higher than the popular leaded gasoline Premix which costs Rp 925.

Also as part of the Blue Sky program, Faisal said, Pertamina has so far set up 10 LPG stations in Jakarta, the West Java provincial capital of Bandung and the Bali provincial capital of Denpasar.

Faisal also said Pertamina has launched 42 new environmentally friendly types of lubricants this year, including the smokeless Mesrania 2T Enviro lubricant for two-stroke machine motorbikes and synthetic air coolers.

The Japanese Automobile Standard Organization has certified the lubricant as best quality, recommending it for Japanese motorbikes. (jsk)