Fuel stock position is alarming: Pertamina

The country?s fuel stock situation is alarming as it is only enough for 23 days. Ideally, Indonesia must have fuel stocks enough for at least 50 days, the state?owned oil and gas company Pertamina said in Jakarta on Thuesday.

?With a population of hundreds of millions, Indonesia must have ideally fuel stocks enough for 50 days. But, Pertamina?s capacity is only to hold stocks enough for 23 days, which actually is not at the safe level,? Pertamina's president director Ariffi Nawawi told Harian Ekonomi Neraca on Thursday.

Yet, Pertamina -- as a sole supplier and distributor of fuel in the domestic market ? must try to maintain fuel stocks at a safe level, Ariffi said.

?Why we maintained fuel stocks enough only for 23 days is that our financial position which is very limited,? Ariffi said.

In order to meet this situation, Pertamina has been opening new fuel depots across the country, he said. (*)