Subsidized fuel consumption to increase in 2011: Pertamina

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina said the national consumption of subsidized fuels will jump to 42.5 million kiloliters (kl) next year, up by nearly 6 percent from the estimated consumption in 2010.

Pertamina's marketing and business director Djaelani Sutomo said Monday the increase would be spurred by the growth of the country?s economy and population of motorized vehicles.

The company also expected the quota of subsidized fuels to go up to 36.7 million kl next year from 36.5 million kl set in the 2010 state budget.

Previously oil and gas downstream sector regulator BPH Migas had said that consumption of subsidized gasoline would increase by 9.34 percent to 23.3 million kl this year from 21.22 million kl last year. Diesel oil consumption will jump by 8.22 percent to 13.1 million kl from 12.1 million kl last year and kerosene use will drop by 17.28 percent to 3.8 million kl. (godang)