"With rising economic activities, fuel consumption this year is predicted to grow at the same pace as last year at 10 percent," Director General of Oil and Gas Edy Hermantoro said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has predicted that subsidized gasoline consumption will reach 31 million kiloliters this year, a 10 percent increase from last year`s 28.24 million kiloliters.

"With rising economic activities, fuel consumption this year is predicted to grow at the same pace as last year at 10 percent," Director General of Oil and Gas Edy Hermantoro said here on Tuesday.

The gasoline consumption forecast is higher than the subsidized gasoline quota of 29.2 million kiloliters set in the 2013 state budget, he said.

He went on to say subsidized diesel oil consumption is projected to increase 8 percent to 16.8 million kiloliters this year from 15.56 million kiloliters last year.

The quota of subsidized diesel oil set in the 2013 state budget is 15.11 million kiloliters.

Edy said subsidized kerosene consumption will slightly increase to a range of 1.2 million to 1.3 million kiloliters from last year`s 1.18 million kiloliters.

The forecast kerosene consumption is lower than the quota of 1.7 million kiloliters set in the 2013 state budget, he said.

After all, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is still undecided about proposing revision of subsidized kerosene quota, he said.

"The kerosene may serve as a buffer against unexpected thing particularly when consumption increases in November and December," he said.

Subsidized fuel consumption is expected to increase to up to 49.5 million kiloliters this year unless the government controls the use of subsidized fuels.

The government expects to control the use of subsidized fuels to 48 million-48.5 million kiloliters this year.

The ministry is still finding the right time to discuss revision of subsidized fuel quota with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII, he said.

"The DPR will resume sessions on May 13 after recess," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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