To avoid exceeding this year’s subsidized diesel distribution quota, the government has moved to increase the limit from 14.5 million kiloliters (kl) to 16 million kl. State-owned oil company Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati told lawmakers in Jakarta on Thursday that the government had increased the subsidized diesel quota as the initial limit was expected to be surpassed this month. She said the company, which operates more than 90 percent of domestic gas stations nationwide, saw diesel consumption spike this year due to growing mining and agriculture activities in certain regions and the expansion of the trans-Java and trans-Sumatra toll roads. In general, Pertamina and the government have struggled to control the distribution of subsidized fuel because of limited corporate oversight and populist protests. “This year’s quota is smaller than con...