Pertamina's HOMC import jumps by eightfold

State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina said that importation of high octane mogas component (HOMC) rose to 3.716 million barrels in 2007, detikfinance reported.

Pertamina processing director Suroso Atmomartoyo said on Wednesday night that the company's importation of HOMC surged by 812 percent from its plan last year.

The imported HOMC came in March with 571,000 barrels, April with 200,000 barrels, May with 420,000 barrels, Agustus with 375,000 barrels, September with 382,000 barrels, November with 797,000 barrels and December with 971,000 barrels, he said.

The importation will increase to 4 million barrels this year. "As we will turn around Balongan refinery plant, our HOMC production will end," he said.

Pertamina president director Ari Soemarno said the increase was a deliberate option, as the company deemed importing HOMC was more economical than importing Premium 88 high octane fuel. (*)