AKR expects 20-30 % increase in 2011 fuel sales

Indonesian listed firm PT AKR Corporindo Tbk, a leading fuel distributor, expects an increase of between 20 percent and 30 percent in gasoline sales next year in line with the expansion of its retail outlets.

The company?s director Suresh Vembu said its target to sell 1.3 million kiloliters (kl) of fuels this year was quite achievable because up to September, the sales had reached 951,000 kl.

He said that the company was building a number of gasoline stations in South Sumatra, Lampung, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sulawesi to further expand the company?s distribution networks.

The new fuel stations which are expected to begin operation in January next year will increase the number of the company?s retail outlets to 36 from 16 at present.

The company is also increasing its storage capacity, which now stands at 509,185 kl, by around 65,000 kiloliters to support the expansion of the distribution network. For example, storage capacity be increased by 6,000 kl in Palembang, by 10,000 kl in Gabion, North Sumatra, kiloliters, by 30,000 kl in Stagen, South Kalimantan, by 19,000 kl in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. (giok)