Pertamina will continue to import HOMC

State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina would continue to import high-octane mogas component (HOMC) this year to support the government's blue sky program to reduce air pollution in the country's major cities despite protests from some members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Investor Daily reported on Monday.

Pertamina's president director Ari Soemarno said that this year's imports of HOMC would be about 200,000 barrels per month or about 2.4 million barrels a year, which would represent a sharp decline from 12 million barrels in previous years.

"We would continue with HOMC imports. Otherwise, how could we meet the demand for unleaded gasoline," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper. He said that imports of HOMC would not cause any financial losses to the state as feared by some House members.

Pertamina would only import HOMC until the end of this year as it plans to replace it with octane booster which is cheaper by US$5 per barrel.

In August 2005, The new refinery plant being built under Pertamina's Langit Biru or blue sky project as part of the expansion of the company's Balongan refinery to produce HOMC fuel with capacity of 52,000 barrels per day. (*)