Subsidized fuel consumption may be 4 mkl above quota

By Godang Sitompul

The government will seek approval from the House of Representatives to increase the quota for this year?s subsidized fuels by around 3 to 4 million kiloliters to cope with rising demand.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said that as of June, the fuel consumption has reached 21.7 million kl and will likely reach 43 to 44 million kl by the end of the year, higher than the 40 million kl quota.

?And usually, people consume more fuels in the second half of the year than they do in the first, so my guess we may be short of some 3 to 4 million kl,? Wacik said, adding that his Ministry will soon seek for House?s approval.

He said the prediction has also included the effects of recent regulations banning public office vehicles to use subsidized fuels. ?Yes, we target the rulings to help save about 1 million kl a year, but it will not be enough to push down fuel consumption under the quota.?

Editing by Dadan Wijaksana