we have no other choice but to maintain the quota at 46 million kiloliters.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is unlikely to raise the subsidized fuel quota of 46 million kiloliters in the revised 2014 state budget even if the quota will be exceeded, Finance Minister Chatib Basri said.

"No matter what happens, we have no other choice but to maintain the quota at 46 million kiloliters," he said here on Friday.

The government had anticipated the likelihood of subsidized fuel consumption exceeding the quota at the end of this year. However, the House of Representatives (DPR) have refused the inclusion of a clausal allowing the government to raise the quota, if needed, in the revised state budget law, he said.

"When I was at the DPR (to discuss the revised state budget), I exercised caution on the issue because it will pose a problem to the new government. That is why I made notes of objection that the current government has warned of the issue," he said.

Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro meanwhile said the government had started reducing subsidized gasoline and diesel oil allocations to certain areas as part of the efforts to maintain the subsidized fuel quota at 46 million kiloliters.

"The allocations have been adjusted, so the eastern part of (Indonesia) will not run a shortage. The allocations for the eastern part will remain unchanged. The change will affect allocations in the western part, particularly Java, Sumatra, and Bali," he said.

State oil and gas PT Pertamina had earlier said it will reduce subsidized diesel oil and gasoline supplies to gasoline stations as of August 2014, so that the subsidized fuel quota will not exceed 46 million kiloliters.

Pertamina Marketing and Commercial Director Hanung Budya said on Thursday the company will reduce subsidized diesel oil and gasoline supplies to gasoline stations by 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Unless the measure is not taken, the subsidized diesel oil quota will be used up on November 30 and the subsidized gasoline quota on December 19, he said.

(S012/INE/A014)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2014