Pertamina buys US$570 million per month

State oil and gas company Pertamina admitted on Thursday that it bought American dollars to the tune of US$570 million per month for the payment of its fuel imports.

Company president Baihaki Hakim said the company gave the order for the dollars to state-owned Bank Mandiri, which bought the dollars from the free market.

But, he said, the company would follow the government's instruction to buy the dollars from the central bank.

Coordinating Minister for Economy Rizal Ramli recently blamed Pertamina for pressing down the value of rupiah through its dollar purchase from the market.

He ordered the company to buy its dollar needs from the central bank. (Godang)