Pertamina downplays reports of kerosene shortage

Pertamina downplayed reports of kerosene shortages in several provinces in the country, saying that stocks of the oil kept in the state owned oil and gas company's depots were more than enough to meet the demand.

Pertamina's president Baihaki Hakim said in Jakarta on Friday that unlike gasoline, the stocks of kerosene were more than sufficient to meet the demand from the people. Although some of the kerosene was still imported, it did not mean that Pertamina faced difficulties in fulfilling the demand, he added.

"We have a large of amount of kerosene stocks. Unlike gasoline, our kerosene stock is very good," he told reporters following a meeting with Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Reports of the shortages of kerosene, which is widely used as cooking fuel and for lightening in rural areas emerged on Thursday, only a day after Pertamina managed to settle the shortage of gasoline in the capital. Most of the gasoline stations did not receive enough supply from the oil and gas company early this week. Long lines of motorists waiting for gasolines were seen at almost all gas stations in the capital.

The supply returned to normal on Thursday afternoon after repairs were made on the Bologna refinery in West Java. (*)