Bali to Limit Cheap Fuel by License Plate

JAKARTA — Indonesia's state-owned fuel retailer Pertamina supports a Bali provincial government plan to restrict sales of subsidized fuel using an odd-even license plate system, a company official said. Under the plan, drivers would only be allowed to buy Pertalite — a low-cost, subsidized gasoline — on days that match the last digit of their license plate. Vehicles with odd-numbered plates could refuel on odd dates, and even-numbered plates on even dates. PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, the company's commercial and trading arm, said it backs the policy as a way to ensure subsidized fuel reaches the drivers who need it most. The Bali government has not announced when the rule would take effect. Similar odd-even traffic policies are already used in several Indonesian cities to reduce congestion. Subsidized fuel is a politically sensitive issue in Indonesia, where Pertalite is the most widely used gasoline. The government has been looking for ways to tighten distribution and cut the burden on the state budget.