Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Large ships of over 30 gross tons are allowed to use subsidized fuel provided they obtain recommendations from local government authorities, a minister noted.

"This could eliminate the concerns of business players that they do not get subsidized fuel services," Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Cicip Sutardjo stated here on Friday.

He explained that ships of large gross tons could use subsidized fuels as part of the implementation of Presidential Instruction No. 15 / 2011 on Fishermens Protection, where the KKP on February 5, signed an agreement with the Director General of Oil and Mineral Resources, Downstream Oil and Gas Regulator (BPH Migas) and state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina.

The minister noted that fishing ships could use up to 25 kiloliters per month with verification and recommendation letters from the local fishery ports or from the provincial/district authorities in charge of fisheries affairs.

"Thus, ships of over 30 gross tons owned by traditional fishermen can use subsidized fuel," the minister added.

Earlier, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) suggested that all ships regardless of their tonnage be allowed to use subsidized fuel.

(A014/INE)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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