Shell to open five more gasoline stations this year

Dutch oil giant Shell plans to open four or five more gasoline stations in Jakarta and other major cities in Java this year to take advantage of a sharp increase in the fuel demand.

Vice president for external affairs and business development of PT Shell Indonesia, Wally Saleh, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the company would soon open another gasoline station on Jalan Gatoto Subroto, South Jakarta, as part of the company's expansion plan in the fuel retail market.

"We will open four or five more stations before the end of this year," he told reporters following a meeting with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

At present, Shell operates three gasoline stations, respectively, in Karawaci, Tangerang; Slipi, West Jakarta; and Mampang, South Jakarta. The company sells non subsidized fuels such as high octane fuel.

The government removed the exclusive rights given to Pertamina to sell fuels in the country last year. But the sales of subsidized fuel Premium is still handled by Pertamina until the end of this year. (Godang)