Pertamina plans to build 166 LPG stations by 2011

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina said Monday it is planning to build 166 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stations by 2011, the company official said.

Under the plan, Pertamina is aiming to add 37 stations in 2008, 40 stations in 2009, 79 stations in 2010 and 10 in 2011, Pertamina?s Marketing and Commerce Director, Ahmad Faisal said.

Pertamina currently has 63 LPG stations, he said.

The plan is to support the government program to replace heavily-subsidized kerosene with LPG, he said. Under the conversion program, about 42 million families should be using LPG for cooking by end-2010.

Separately, Pertamina deputy marketing and commerce director Hanung Budya said the company is planning to team up with SK Corp of South Korea to produce liquefied gas for vehicles (LGV).

Budya gave no further details, saying that both parties are still discussing the details of the project. (godang)