Pertamina to boost MFO sale through overseas market penetration

State oil, gas firm PT Pertamina (Persero) is expected to boost its marine fuel oil (MFO) sales to 1 million kiloliters (kl) within next five years from 500,000-600,000 kl currently through sale expansion overseas, the company?s official said.

Pertamina?s VP for industry & marine fuel marketing Dani Adriananta said Monday that starting early this year, Pertamina sells MFO to foreign cruise liners in Singapore and will continue expand the marketing of the oil product outside Indonesia.

MFO sales on the domestic market have been decreasing, especially thanks PLN?s program to switch from petroleum-based products to gas or coal in fuel consumption, he said.

Pertamina sells MFO in Singapore in partnership with Japanese firm Toyota Tsusho Petroleum PTE Ltd

?We have bagged contracts involving the delivery of 600 tons of MFO over the next six months. We are also looking for new customers among other foreign cruise liners,? he said.

Next, Pertamina will try to offer its MFO to LNG and coal vessels, he added.

In 2012, Pertamina plans to expand its MFO marketing to other Asian countries including Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and the Middle East. (bernard)