Total pulls out from 2010 subsidized fuel distribution tender

PT Total Oil Indonesia , Indonesian downstream unit of French oil giant Total, has pulled out from the tender to distribute 2010 subsidized fuels to accompany state oil and gas company PT Pertamina.

Downstream oil and gas regulator BPH Migas chairman Tubagus Haryono said on Monday Total did not qualify for the tender due to its unprepared infrastructure.

With the departure of Total, there are four bidders remaining to compete for the contract to distribute subsidized fuels. They are PT Shell Indonesia, Petronas, PT AKR Corporindo and PT Elnusa Petrofin.

According to the tender document, Petronas and Shell would like to distribute subsidized diesel fuel in Medan, while AKR was out to distribute fuel in North Sumatra, Lampung, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi . Elnusa hopes to distribute fuel in East Kalimantan.

Haryono said the government would assess the existing bidders and announce the winners on Tuesday. (godang)