Pertamina to import 4.9m barrels of gasoline in May

State oil, gas firm PT Pertamina said Wednesday it would import 4.9 million barrels of gasoline and 2.4 million barrels of diesel next month.

Marketing Director Achmad Faisal said that Pertamina also plans to buy from overseas 4.8 million barrels of gasoline and 2.4 million barrels of diesel in June.

?The imported diesel oil is for industries, while for public service obligation, we shall use diesel produced at local refineries," Achmad said.

Pertamina sells fuel at market price for industries and at subsidized price for the public as part of its public service obligation.

On March 27, 2009, the government issued a policy banning the import of diesel fuel by companies engaged in downstream oil and gas business, including Pertamina, to anticipate further excess stock of fuel diesel domestically. The policy will take into effect on May, 2009.

Director General of Oil and Gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Evita Herawati Legowo said that the new policy did not apply to the previously signed diesel fuel import contract for April delivery. (godang)