Pertamina to build 150 gas filling stations in Java

State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina said it would develop 150 gas filling stations worth a combined Rp1.5 trillion (about US$125.5 million) in Java next year.

Pertamina Director of Marketing and Trading Hanung Budya was quoted by reports as saying that the company supported the national project for consumers to convert from petroleum fuel to gas.

"We are ready to implement the project to convert fuel to gas. There is no other company that can build 150 gas stations within a year except Pertamina," he said.

According to him, the budget for the construction will partly come from dividend allocation.

"The dividend in 2013 was Rp9 trillion, or about US$752.8 million, and can be allocated for the gas station construction. The consumption of gas will reduce the fuel imports and fuel subsidies, besides decreasing the emissions," Hanung said as quoted by Antara.

Hanung said that since the gas stations will be built at the existing fuel stations, no additional land will be required for the project.

According to him, Pertamina has 5,000 fuel stations, of which 3,000 are located in Java. (*)