Indonesian President issues instruction on saving energy

In Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued on Sunday a presidential instruction on energy-saving measures as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing fuel shortage.

The instruction urges all government institutions to reduce the use of elevators, lighting, electrical equipment and vehicles.

The presidential instruction is expected to effect by all ministers, the attorney general, National Police chief, Army chief of staff, all governors, regents and mayors.

They are also urged to disseminate the information on energy-saving measures to private companies operating in their respective areas.

"The presidential instruction is one short-term solution to be implemented starting today (July 10)," presidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng announced.

The presidential instruction was issued after Susilo met with all governors at the presidential palace to discuss the fuel shortage.

Besides the governors, a number of ministers also attended the meeting. Among them were Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakri and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

In the past week, fuel prices soared up by some 500 percent in major provinces of the world's fourth most populous country, due to shortage of US dollars of the state-owned Pertamina company to import oil and maintain a regular 20-day reserve.

The company then cut short its supply for the market, therefore triggering off price hike and widespread rush to purchase fuel all over the country. The government on Friday promised to allocate more money for oil import, while demanding all public and private sectors to save energy.

Source: Xinhua