Govt may import LPG from Qatar

The government is considering to import LPG from Qatar to support its program to swap highly subsidized kerosene usage to LPG.

Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro disclosed that the inquiry took place at the recent gas producers meeting in Doha, Qatar. “We just organized initial talks because the time remains long indeed,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

So far, there has not been a talk on the volume of LPG import.  According to Purnomo, the volume of LPG import may change, depending on the need. "The important thing is Qatar's commitment to supplying LPG (to Indonesia)," he said.   

The conversion program, scheduled for May 2007, aims at replacing the consumption of 998,279 kiloliters of kerosene by 567,767 tons of LPG.

In Pertamina’ conversion program roadmap, the need for LPG is estimated at 833,567 tons in 2008 and 1,146,567 tons in 2009. The difference resulting from the selling prices of kerosene and LPG would economize around Rp 2.3 trillion in 2008 and Rp 3.8 trillion in 2009. (*)