The administration`s spokesman, Aji Sofyan, said here on Friday since two weeks ago officials using office cars or motorbikes were not allowed to use the cars or motorbikes to office but had to bike.
He said the move saved up to 5,000 liters of fuel oil a day or in terms of money Rp22.5 million.
"Certainly it helps reduce government oil subsidy," he said.
He said the Balikpapan administration operates no less than 800 office cars and motorbikes everyday.
He said the energy saving movement would not reduce administrative services.
He said trucks operated by sanitary, garden and funeral service trucks remained operating with a full fuel supply.
"The energy saving movement is effective only for vehicles used for transportation from home to the office," he said.
In the future, he said, the city administration plans to operate a bus to carry officials living far away to and from the office to reduce the use of cars or motorcycles.
He said the implementation of energy-saving movement could be implemented well because mayor Rizal Effendi happens to be a sport enthusiast. He said mayor Rizal Effendi often goes to the office by bike which happens to be less than two kilometers away.
He said biking has been increasingly popular among the people in Balikpapan. A lot of bike to work communities has sprung up pioneered by employees of several oil companies in the region such as Total Indonesie and Chevron Indonesia.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
