Rush for fuel ahead of subsidy decision
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As the nation waits for a final decision on subsidised price of fuel, demand for the commodity at gas stations has been rising, a senior official at state-owned petrol firm Pertamina said.
“Demand has risen by 3 per cent, which is still a safe rate,” Pertamina communications vice president Ali Mundakir was quoted by kontan.co.id as saying on Monday.
Ali added that people were starting to buy up fuel since last week.
On average, Ali said the demand for subsidised fuel had risen to 81,000 barrels per day from 80,000.
“We will try to prevent the demand from rising any further,” Ali said.
The government and the House of Representatives are currently deliberating the 2013 revised state budget (APBN-P) bill during a plenary session. The bill contains a stipulation that raises subsidised fuel price by around 33 per cent to 6,500 rupiah (Bt20) per litre.
