Pertamina ups March gasoline import

State oil and gas company PT.Pertamina said it would import 5 million barrels of Premium gasoline in March.

Director Achmad Faisal said on Wednesday that March import would increase compared to February import of 4.2 million barrels. In January, Pertamina imported 3million barrels, he said.

He did not disclose the reason for import increase.

Faisal also said that Pertamina may use its excess stock of kerosene as feed for petrochemical, as thus far it had yet find buyers for its excess kerosene.

Faisal added that Pertamina has also decided not to export its excess diesel fuel excess stock.

?Pertamina will stop importing diesel fuel and hopefully excess stock of kerosene and diesel fuel could be solved by the end of next month,? he said.

Pertamina has been experiencing excess stock of kerosene and diesel fuel due to the success of kerosene consumption conversion to LPG and the fact that state electricity firm PLN significantly reduces diesel consumption for natural gas.(bernard)