Pertamina to operate 5,000 gas stations by 2009

State oil and gas company Pertamina has set itself the target of operating 5,000 gas stations across the country by 2009 to give motorists easy access to fuel oil, an official said.

 

Pertamina now only operated 3,500 gas stations which were far from enough to serve motorists comfortably, the company`s vice president for retail fuel oil marketing Djaelani Sutomo was quoted by Antara news agency as saying Wednesday.

 

The plan to build more gas stations was one of Pertamina`s strategies to compete with its rivals following the government’s decision to terminate the company`s monopoly in the oil and gas business in the country, he said.

 

Compared to neighboring countries, the number of gas stations in Indonesia was relatively small, he said.

 

Djaelani said Pertamina was planning to build around 9,000 gas stations by 2012.(*)