Pertamina's monopoly on asphalt, LPG will be lifted

The government plans to remove the exclusive rights given to state oil and gas company Pertamina on the sales and production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), asphalt, wax and other non-oil products, Kompas daily reported on Saturday.

Rachmat Sudibyo, the director general of oil and gas at the ministry of energy and mineral resources, said in Jakarta on Friday that the deregulation on the sales and production of such non-oil gas products was under preparation.

He said the lifting of the oil and gas company's monopoly on LPG, asphalt and wax would be stipulated in the Presidential decree.

At present, Pertamina holds the exclusive rights in the sales and production, crude oil, fuel, gas and other oil-related products. (*)