3 firms may join Pertamina to distribute 2010 subsidized fuel

Three firms that are PT Aneka Kimia Raya Corporindo (AKR), PT Shell Indonesia, and PT Petronas Niaga Indonesia, may operate alongside state oil and gas company PT Pertamina to distribute subsidized fuels in 2010.

Downstream oil and gas regulator BPHMigas' Chairman Tubagus Haryono said that the three companies had met the requirements to become distributors of subsidized fuels, but their appointment is subject to the endorsement of the 2010 state budget bill currently being deliberated in the House of Representatives.

The three firms may distribute subsidized fuels outside Java. "The number may be less than three. Who will get teh rights to do so will be announced one or two days after the state budget has been approved," he said.

He added that BPHMigas would "verify and clarify" the proposals from the three companies.

Pertamina has been once again appointed as the subsidized fuel distributor for 2010.

The subsidized fuels to be allocated for the 2010 budget would consist of 21.45 million kiloliters of Premium gasoline, 3.80 million kilolitres of kerosene, 11.25 million kiloliters of diesel fuel, 214,541 kiloliters of bioethanol and 562,534 kiloliters of biodiesel. (godang)