"On Thursday (October 30), I met with the management of state oil and gas company Pertamina and found we have adequate stocks and there will not be any problem with supplies," the minister stated here on Friday.
She noted there was no possibility of running short of subsidized fuel since the volume of standby stocks was large.
"I feel calm after learning that stocks are available," she added.
However, Rini who was installed as the energy and mineral resources minister on October 27, 2014, in Joko Widodos Working Cabinet" for the 2014 to 2019 period, warned that a fuel shortage could arise if the stocks were not managed well.
"But after my talks with Pertamina yesterday, I saw our stocks were adequate," she added.
She remarked that President Joko Widodo had stressed on changing the fuel oil subsidy type, from consumption subsidy to production subsidy, of course with a yellow card.
"It will depend on us whether we can divert it or not. When viewed from the state budget aspect, it seems the subsidy has burdened the budget, as, after all, the current price of oil is high," she observed.
The government has fixed the quota of subsidized fuel oil at 46 million kiloliters until the end of 2014.
The government has also indicated it will raise the prices of subsidized fuels before January 1, 2015.
In the meantime, the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) has limited the consumption of subsidized fuel in a bid to meet the quota amounting to 46 million kiloliters stipulated in the state budget.
BPH Migas Head Andy N. Sommeng urged the state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) and the dealers of other private entities to control the consumption of subsidized fuel so that the set quota is not exceeded.
"We believe we can stay within the set quota," he stated here on Wednesday.
He noted that the consumption of subsidized fuel has been controlled in some areas such as Makassar, South Sulawesi, by imposing a cap of Rp20 thousand worth of subsidized fuel per motorcycle user.
"If the quota of subsidized fuel is inadequate, then the people can opt for non-subsidized fuel," he affirmed.
The restriction on subsidized fuel consumption has also been imposed in South Kalimantan and control cards have also been implemented in Batam, Riau Islands.
"A similar pattern will be applied in other areas," he noted.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys Director General for Oil and Gas Affairs, Edy Hermantoro, stated that the ministry conducted a meeting to evaluate the consumption of subsidized fuel and the progress made through control efforts.
According to him, the consumption of subsidized fuel recently reached 38.4 million kiloliters.
"We will tighten the grip on consumption," he added.
The efforts to curtail the consumption of subsidized fuel can be intensified by increasing the number of special dispensers at gas filling stations (SPBU) for non-subsidized fuel.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
