Shell to enter fuel market for industries next year

Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to enter the fuel market for industrial sector beginning next year following its successful debut in the country's fuel retail market late last year, Investor Daily reported Thursday.

The company's manager corporate communications Fathia Syarif said in Jakarta on Wednesday that Shell would use the oil storage which it rents from PT Redeco Petrolin Utama to support the distribution of the fuel to the industrial buyers.

"In the initial stage, we will distribute fuel to industries in Jakarta and its surrounding areas," she was quoted as saying by the daily. Fathia added that the planned entry in the fuel distribution to industries would be part of the company's program to further boost its market share in the country's fuel market, which is still controlled by state-owned oil company Pertamina.

She said that Shell would also continue to expand its retail network in the Jakarta greater area by opening more gasoline stations.

As the first private company entering the company's fuel retail market, Shell has opened four stations in Jakarta. "We hope we can open one or two more stations before the end of this year," Fathia said. (*)