BP, Shell, Petronas to enter eastern Indonesia retail market

The government said on Wednesday a number of foreign companies wanted to enter the country's retail oil sector and importing oil fuel especially for the eastern Indonesia market.

Erie Soedarmo, director of oil and gas processing and marketing, told reporters on Wednesday the interested companies among others are Anglo-American energy company BP Plc, Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, and Malaysia?s Petronas.

Erie said the government likely to give them licenses, as Pertamina is no longer the sole player in the sector. ?Moreover the companies have refineries close to the eastern (of Indonesia),? he said, referring that BP and Shell have refineries in Australia and Petronas in Serawak.

Erie earlier said that his office had received a letter from BP regarding for application of license to enter the retail sector, adding that BP had yet to conduct a presentation on that matter. (Godang)