Pertamina to build 1,700 gas stations until 2007

State oil and gas company PT. Pertamina plans to build 1,700 gas stations across the archipelago this year in a bid to keep its dominance in retail fuel market, a senior official said on Thursday.

Deputy director marketing Hanung Budya told reporters in Bali that this year the company will build 700 units of gas stations and next year 1,000. He said most of the gas stations would be operated under franchise system.

He hinted that one gas station would cost investor around Rp3-4 billion (US$=Rp.9,100) to develop, including land costs.

Hanung said Pertamina aimed to control 85 percent of Indonesia?s retail fuel market shares.

Since the downstream liberalization, several multinational retailers such as Shell and Petronas had entered Indonesian market. (godang)