World LPG Forum Opens In Bali

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Vice President Boediono officially opened  the 25th World Liquified Petroleum Gas Forum here on Wednesday.

The annual event is expected to be participated in by around 1,000 delegates including industrialists, LPG producers  and policy makers from 67 countries.

The forum including exhibition hosted by the state oil and gas company PT Pertamina,  is the second in Bali after one in 1996.

Pertamina marketing director Hanung Budya said the meeting has strategic value for Indonesia to show its success in the implementation do kerosene to LPG conversion program.

The success would draw the world's attention "as no other country has succeeded in implementing kerosene to LPG conversion program," he said.

He said in relatively short time, through the program  Indonesia has succeeded in cutting consumption of kerosene on which subsidy reached up to Rp70 trillion a year.

There are three benefits gained by the country  from the program -- substantial cut in subsidy, clean energy and a cut in poverty, he said.

Bali's already famous tourism  also gains from the forum with  around 1000 people attending it, he said.(*/T007)