Who'll Pay this Bill?

Consumption of fuel has passed the estimate set in the 2001 State Budget and additional subsidies totaling Rp1.8 trillion are required. The government has asked Pertamina to cover this but it has refused. Will this mean fuel shortages?

September 25, 2001

IT'S not at all surprising if diesel is rather difficult to get hold of at the moment. But— this time—it's not because of smuggling or hoarding. The culprit is in fact Pertamina itself. The state oil company is apparently in the midst of tightening up fuel distribution and supply to petrol stations has already been limited. The aim is to put the brakes on fuel consumption that has already exceeded original estimates. It's no secret that

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