Pertamina to import two million gas cylinders from Taiwan

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State oil and gas company Pertamina plans to import two million 3-kg gas cylinders from Taiwan to speed up the government`s kerosene-to-gas conversion program, its vice president director said.

"Domestic gas cylinder makers are likely to miss the target of producing six million 3-kg gas cylinders and therefore, Pertamina is applying for a permit to import around two million 3-kg gas cylinders from Taiwan," Iin Arifin Takhyan said here Tuesday.

Actually, Pertamina needed 4.6 million 3-kg gas cylinders, he said.

In their meeting with the Industry Ministry recently, domestic gas cylinder producers admitted they would have difficulties fulfilling the demand for 4.6 million 3-kg gas cylinders, he said.

"The import will only be made in 2007. In 2008 I think domestic producers will be able to meet the demand," he said.

The plan to import gas cylinders was part of the government program to procure 10 million 3-kg gas cylinders, he said.