TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) has imported 1.2 million barrel diesel fuel following the shutdown of the company’s refinery in the last two months.

Pertamina deputy director Ahmad Bambang said that the company had decided to import diesel fuel as fuel stock plummeted to below 20 days—the normal rate being 23 days. According to him, the decline in fuel stock was due to increasing demand for diesel fuel from mining industry as coal prices rose at the turn of the year.

“The estimate is too low in the last three months. Apparently, it increased by over 2 million in the market,” Bambang said yesterday in Jakarta.

Fuel stock continues to worsen after Balikpapan refinery suddenly shuts down on December 2. The refinery with an output of 43 million tons of diesel fuel was halted its operation once again on December 11. It even stopped producing diesel fuel for over 24 hours since January 15.

Energy Ministry had approved Pertamina’s import proposal. Director for Downstream Oil and Gas Business Setyorini Tri Hutami said that the ministry has allowed gasoline import as well. “Import recommendation has been approved for the next six months,” she said.

Many have questioned the decision to import diesel fuel. Pertamina typically made the decision three months before the import. In this instance, the company made the decision in December to import diesel fuel for January. The decision contradicts October’s meeting result that Pertamina will not import diesel fuel, among others.

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