Pertamina puts limits on fuel purchases

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina has put limits on fuel transactions at gas stations in Jakarta and several other cities in the country in response to panic buying triggered by the government?s plan to raise fuel prices. The Jakarta Post reported Saturday.

According to a letter distributed to gas stations in Jakarta, Pertamina, starting Friday, will limit gasoline purchases for private cars to Rp 75,000 (US$7.06), public transportation vehicles Rp 100,000 and motorcycles Rp 15,000.

The letter states that similar limits apply for the purchase of diesel fuel. It is signed by Wahyudin Akbar, the general manager of Pertamina for fuel retail marketing in Jakarta and West Java.

Djaelani Sutomo, Pertamina vice president for fuel retail marketing, confirmed the measure, saying a similar letter was distributed to gas stations in other areas known to be prone to excessive fuel consumption, such as many cities in Kalimantan and Java.

There has also been an increase in fuel smuggling and hoarding, triggered by the huge gap between the market and subsidized prices for fuel.

?We want to make sure that we meet the national quota of 35.5 million kiloliters (kl) set for this year,? Djaelani said. The 35.5 million kiloliter allocation comprises 16.9 million kiloliters of gasoline, 10.9 million kl of diesel fuel and 7.5 million kl of kerosene.

Earlier in the day, Pertamina president director Ari Sumarno told a press briefing every gas station in Jakarta would be given an additional fuel supply of 5 percent in response to rising public demand.(*)