NDONESIA'S FUEL CONSUMPTION FORECAST AT 38.6MLN KL: BPH MIGAS

Indonesia`s subsidized fuel consumption this year is expected to reach 38.6 million kiloliters, well above the target of 36.5 million kiloliters due to growing needs, an oil and gas official said.

The forecast was based on the realization of subsidized fuel consumption until August, Chief of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH Migas) Tubagus Haryono said at a working meeting between Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh and the House of Representatives Commission VII here on Monday.

"We predict the target of subsidized fuel consumption set at 36.5 million kiloliters for 2010 will be exceeded. Based on the realization until now subsidized fuel consumption is expected to increase to 38.6 million kiloliters," he said.

Under the revised 2010 state budget, subsidized fuel consumption has been set at 36.5 million kiloliters consisting of 21.45 million kiloliters of premium gasoline, 11.194 million kiloliters of diesel oil and 3.8 million kiloliters of kerosene.

Data from state oil and gas company Pertamina show premium gasoline sales in the first seven months of 2010 reached 13 million kiloliters, accounting for 60.65 per cent of the target of 21.45 million kiloliters set in the state budget.

Diesel oil sales reached 7.38 million kiloliters or 65.92 per cent of the target of 11.194 million kiloliters and kerosene sales 1.45 million kiloliters or 38.15 per cent of the target of 3.8 million kiloliters.

Overall, subsidized fuel consumption in the seven-month period reached 21.83 million kiloliters or 59.8 per cent of the target of 36.5 million kiloliters.

Earlier, Tubagus said subsidized fuel consumption might soar to 40.1 million kiloliters this year if the government did not restrict it.

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