TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government plans to lend Rp25 – 50 trillion through the issuance of state securities. The debt is to cover the budget deficits that have swelled to 2.4 percent from the targeted 1.5 percent. Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the gross funding portion from the state securities totaled Rp300 trillion. “Half of it is to extend the state securities which are due this year,” he said yesterday. The amount is higher than the previous gross target of Rp212.75 trillion. As such, the net state securities will total Rp159.5 – Rp184.5 trillion. The loan increase is related to the swollen budget deficit as a result of fuel subsidy increases, which are related to world crude oil price increases. Based on the government’s estimates, fuel subsidies will increase from Rp123 trillion to Rp178 trillion. This is in addition to the increase in electricity subsidies amounting to Rp53 trillion from Rp40.7 trillion. Agus said that if the government does not accelerate the proposal for Revised State Budget, the funding will increase by Rp130 trillion. ALI NY | SUBKHAN | ANGGRITA D | SUTJI DECILYA | MARTHA THERTINA