Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Oil fuel consumption has increased in the past three months due among others to the government`s plan to raise the price of the commodity as of April 1.

In January oil fuel consumption reached 3.4 kiloliters and it increased to 3.5 million kiloliters in February and is estimated to increase further to 3.7 kiloliters in March, state-owned oil/gas company Pertamina spokesman M Harun said here on Friday.

Harun said he hoped people would buy subsidized fuels proportionately ahead of the planned price hike.

"Buy proportionately as we have to share with other consumers," he said.

He said consumers were not banned to fill up the tank but Pertamina would not tolerate those who bought subsidized fuels several times to be kept at home.

"This is hoarding and also dangerous," he said.

He said Pertamina had already given sanctions to around 30 filling stations that were found to have hoarded subsidized fuels.

The stations are located in Central Java, East Java, West Java, North Sumatra, South Sumatra and others. "Most of them are in South Sumatra," he added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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