Only 10 percent of crude, fuel transportation order go to national firms

Indonesian tankers currently absorb only 10 percent of the the country?s crude and fuel transportation order valued at Rp 10 trillion (US$=Rp 8,460) annually, Kompas daily quoted an official of state oil and gas firm Pertamina as saying Wednesday.

Local transportation companies had tried to increase the number of their crude and fuel carriers, but it was still less than enough to compete with foreign vessels, said Ibrahim Hasyim, Pertamina?s deputy director for shipping.

Ibrahim said that in 2002, a total of 163.8 million tons of crude and oil products were transported within Indonesia and between Indonesia and other countries. Of the 163.8 million tons, 72.5 million tons or 44 percent were carried within Indonesia, 25.9 million tons or 16 percent were brought into the country, 65.3 million tons or 40 percent were shipped out of the country.

He further said 35 percent of the 72.5 million tons of crude and oil products domestically transported last year was carried by foreign tankers. Of the 25.9 million tons of crude and oil products imported by the country last year, only 23 percent was carried by tankers chartered by Indonesian firms. Meanwhile, all the 65.3 million tons of crude and oil products exported by the country last year were carried by foreign tankers.

He said Indonesia shipped crude and fuels to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China and Taiwan, and imports oil from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. (*)