BP MIGAS TO CALL TENDER FOR PROVISION OF SUBSIDIZED OILS THIS MONTH

Jakarta, Aug 3 (ANTARA) - The Upstream Oil and Gas Executive Agency (BPH Migas) plans to call a tender for the provision of subsidized oils for 2009 this month.

BPH Migas Chief Tubagus Haryono said on Sunday the agency would invite at least 27 corporate bodies to the limited tender.

"We have set up a steering team and a technical team with regard to the provision of subsidized fuels for 2009," he said.

The 27 corporate bodies are PT Pertamina, PT Elnusa
Petrofin, PT Shell Indonesia, PT Aneka Kima Raya Tbk, Petronas, PT Sigma Rancang Perdana, PT Tiara Energy, NDO Fuel, Concord Fuel, PT Solar Premium Central, PT Bumi Asri Prima, PT Unitrada Komutama, and PT Petro Andalan Nusantara.

The others are PT Hutan Nilam Persada, PT Cosmic Indonesia, PT Patra Niaga, PT Premindo Mitra Kencana, PT Mulya Adhi Paramita, PT Dwikarya Niaga Agung, PT Jagad Energy, PT Mahaputra Adi Nusa, PT Medco Sarana Kalibaru, PT Barito Energy, PT Ranji Karya Sakti, PT Humpuss Trading, PT Global Artha Borneo, and PT Surya Makmur Agung Lestari.

Tubagus said the agency would continue to divide commercial distribution zones (WDN) into four, namely zone I for Sumatra, zone II for Java and Bali, zone III for Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya and zone IV for West Nusatenggara and East Nusatenggara.

The corporate bodies wishing to take part in the tender must meet the criteria that they must be reliable and have capacity in supplying fuel oils, have adequate infrastructure facilities for recieving and storing oils, and have adequate distribution networks.

In addition, they also must have operational reserves, operate at least in two commercial distribution zones, have financial capacity and ensure supplies while distributing subsidized oils.

If none of the corporate bodies met the criteria, the agency would directly appoint state oil and gas company Pertamina as the distributor of subsidized oils as it did in the past years, he said.

Under Presidential Regulation No.71/2005 on the supply and distribution of certain fuels, the agency was allowed to appoint the distributor of subsidized oils either through direct appointment or tender, he said.