"There is not enough subsidized fuel supply for this year, but I hope this condition does not cause any major disturbance in the country," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik has urged the public to switch from subsidized fuel to non-subsidized fuel due to the shortage of subsidized fuel supply until the end of this year.

"If the society and companies want to contribute to the country, they have to start using non-subsidized fuel, considering the lack of subsidized fuel supply," he said ahead of the meeting with the House of Representatives here on Monday.

Wacik stated that subsidized fuel was supposed to be used only by those people who could not afford to purchase non-subsidized fuel.

"There is not enough subsidized fuel supply for this year, but I hope this condition does not cause any major disturbance in the country," he said.

"We have asked for 44 million kiloliters more, but the supply is being increasingly reduced. Therefore, if you think there is sufficient supply, it is an absolutely wrong assumption," Wacik pointed out.

He stated that an additional supply of 44 million kiloliters of subsidized fuel had been allocated to all regions across Indonesia.

"Based on the evaluation done by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, subsidized fuel consumption is different in each region, but the average consumption is more than the quota determined by the government," Wacik explained.

"This shows there is excessive fuel consumption in many parts of the country," he noted.

The minister also expressed concern over the prediction of Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) that the number of motor vehicles in Indonesia would reach two million by 2016.

"This will make the shortage of subsidized fuel even more acute," he said.

According to Wacik, the government set this year`s quota of subsidized fuel at 40 million kiloliters.

"However, the government had to raise the quota by 4 million kiloliters in September 2012," he pointed out.

"As for 2013, the quota of subsidized fuel will be increased to 46 million kiloliters," Wacik added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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