Additional fuel quota yet to be distributed in W. Kalimantan

(Kompas/Agustinus Handoko)

Additional fuel for West Kalimantan province, whose fuel consumption exceeded its quota, has not yet been distributed, causing long lines at a number of filling stations.

State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina’s West Kalimantan office sales manager Putut Andrianto confirmed on Thursday that the province would get an additional fuel quota but the company was still waiting for downstream oil and gas regulator BPH Migas to determine the amount and the distribution time frame.

“We are still waiting for word on the amount of additional fuel and when it will be distributed. It probably will be distributed prior to Idul Fitri holiday season,” Putut said as quoted by kompas.com.

During a meeting with lawmakers on the House of Representatives’s Commission VII overseeing energy earlier this month, representatives of Kalimantan’s regional administrations demanded that this year’s quota be increased by 27.8 percent to 3.46 million kiloliters, up from 2.71 million kiloliters in the 2012 revised state budget.

The local leaders also urged local people to block coal shipments to Java to force the central government to meet their demands for larger allocations of subsidized fuel. (swd)