The subsidized fuel quota for 2006 significantly reduced

The government has decided to reduce the subsidized fuel quota in the 2006 state budget to about 41.478 million kiloliters from about 59.6 million kiloliters this year.

The decision was made during a hearing between Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro and the House of Representatives' Commission for Energy and Mineral Resources on Thursday.

Purnomo said that the reduction of the subsidized fuel could be made because the subsidy for certain fuel products such as industrial diesel oil had been totally removed.

"Next year, the subsidy would be provided only for Premium gasoline, automotive diesel oil and kerosene," he said. The subsidized fuel quota will comprise of 17.08 million kiloliters of gasoline, 10 kiloliters of kerosene and 14.498 million kiloliters of diesel oil.

The quota will not include the fuel to be allocated for the police, which will be given in the form of cash, the minister said. (dino)