We have calculated the import (requirement) based on the production of domestic refineries. In 2021, we plan to import 7.2 million metric tons of LPG.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) has projected its imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in 2021 will rise to 7.2 million metric tons from 6.2 million mt a year ago.

The imports will be increased to meet domestic demand for both subsidized and non-subsidized LPG, which is expected to reach 7.5 million mt from 7.14 million mt in 2020, it said.

“We have calculated the import (requirement) based on the production of domestic refineries. In 2021, we plan to import 7.2 million metric tons of LPG,” Pertamina’s president director, Nicke Widyawati, said during a hearing with Commission VII of the House of Representatives here on Tuesday.

LPG output from Pertamina's refineries has reached 1 million mt while other refineries in the country are producing 995 thousand mt, she informed.

However, she added, the company will continue to increase domestic production to reduce imports.

Meanwhile, Pertamina’s trading and commercial director Mas'ud Khamid said the subsidy for LPG has also continued to increase in line with population growth and the target of receivers.

"Every year, it grows 4.5 to 5 percent," he informed.

Speaking on non-subsidized LPG sales, Khamid said Pertamina is targeting to sell 1.6 million mt of non-subsidized LPG.

He expressed the hope that more people would use non-subsidized LPG and thereby help ease the burden on the state budget.

Meanwhile, Pertamina finance director Emma Sri Martini projected that the company booked a profit of US$1 billion, or about Rp14 trillion, as of December, 2020.

"In the first semester of 2020, we recorded a loss of Rp11 trillion. In December, 2020, the unaudited in-house closing has recorded US$1 billion, or some Rp14 trillion, of profit," she revealed. (INE)

Related news: Pertamina's oil, gas production 98% of target as of July
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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