Pertamina to Boost Gasoline Imports 67% to Meet Holiday Demand

By Bambang Dwi Djanuarto and Leony Aurora

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- PT Pertamina, Indonesia's state oil company, will boost gasoline imports by 67 percent next month to meet higher demand before the Muslim festival of Id-ul-Fitr.

The company will import 5 million barrels of gasoline in September, Hanung Budya, deputy director of marketing, said in Jakarta today. Pertamina usually imports 3 million barrels of petrol each month, he said. The company will import 5.4 million barrels of diesel next month.

Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, begins the fasting month on Sept. 1. Demand increases during the month as people increase travel to visit relatives to break fast each night. The faithful will celebrate Id-ul-Fitr early October.

Pertamina will also increase gasoline imports as the Balongan refinery in Java will shut down for maintenance in October, Budya said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Leony Aurora in Jakarta at laurora@bloomberg.net.