Pertamina to increase Sept-Oct gasoline import

State oil and gas company PT. Pertamina will increase gasoline import by 10 percent for September-October delivery to anticipate increase in consumption during the fasting month of Ramadhan and long holiday ahead.

Deputy Director Marketing and trading Hanung Budya told reporters on Thursday that normally Pertamina imported 2.8 million-3 million barrels of gasoline per month.

Hanung said during the months, national daily consumption of gasoline of 50,000 kliloters per day will be increased by 10 percent.

Meanwhile, he said, diesel oil consumption would go down by 10 percent during the months as many industries would be operating below normal capacity or be closed down.

Pertamina normally imports 5.6 million barrels of diesel oil per month. Despite forecasted decrease in diesel oil consumption, Pertamina would not cut September-October import to build inventory, he said.

National consumption for diesel oil is currently at around 70,000 kiloliters per day, he said.

Hanung said Pertamina is aiming to increase gasoline and diesel oil inventory to equivalent to 20 days of consumption. (godang/bernard)