Pertamina to import 3m barrels of diesel oil next month

State-owned oil, gas firm PT Pertamina plans to raise its diesel oil imports to 3 million barrels in March 2010, as repair works on its refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, has not been completed.

Integrated Supply Chain Head of Pertamina Rusnaedy said on the sidelines of a hearing with Commission VI of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday that the damage on the hydrocraker train A on Jan. 16, 2010 had caused a drop in the production of avtur, diesel oil and LPG.

He said the diesel oil imports in January reached 2 million barrels, but since the Balikpapan plant was still under repair, the imports in February and March would be raised to 3 million barrels.

The imports of Premium gasoline in March 2010 may reach 5 million barrels, while the February imports reached 5.5 million barrels.

"The increase in the Premium imports in February because the Balongan plant (recently) had troubles," he said. But right now the refinery has been operating normally, he added. (godang/bernard)