PRESIDENT CHAIRS LIMITED CABINET MEETING ON ENERGY

Jakarta, Feb. 20 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chaired a limited cabinet meeting on energy-related matters at his office here on Friday.

"The meeting was on energy-related issues. The world oil price today is low but it may rise again some time in the future," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said after the meeting.
Steps needed to be taken to prevent the public from panicking when the oil price suddenly increases again, he said.
"So, from now on, we have to prepare the steps properly," the minister said without giving details on the steps that needed to be taken.
Measures to anticipate a possible increase in the oil price in the medium term should be prepared while the world oil price was still low, he said.
"It should be anticipated while the price has not yet surged. The government must look far ahead , whoever will be leading it. I am talking about the international oil price, not the domestic fuel oil price. We must prepare the steps that need to be taken if the oil price rises again," he said.
President Yudhoyono received Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sri Mulyani, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono, and Minister Yusgiantoro at around 11 am local time.
Last month, the government lowered the prices of premium gasoline from Rp5,000 to Rp4,500 per liter and that of diesel oil from Rp4,800 to Rp4,500 per liter.