Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The government is serious about its fuel oil conversion program to allow autos to operate with gas due to the increasing number of motor vehicles, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik.
"The government will not restrict the automotive industries because they employ a lot of manpower and make our economy grow. Besides, there is a special pride for every individual who can afford a new car," Wacik said when inaugurating three gas refueling stations here on Saturday.
Wacik noted that the Industry Ministry has predicted that cars will increase by one million units, and motorcycles by 7 million units, each year.
According to Wacik, the rapidly increasing number of motor vehicles concerns the government, particularly the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as it works to meet the public's need for fuel oil.
"We currently spend 150 million dollars per day on fuel oil imports, which is really burdensome to the government. Therefore, we must have a strong program to convert from fuel oil and turn to gas," the energy minister noted.
Wacik said the presence of three new gas refueling stations in Bali is expected to encourage the oil to gas conversion program.
"We hope, in the future, that similar gas refueling stations will be built in other regions across the country," Wacik added. (*/DWA)
