Pertamina’s spokesman Basuki Trikora Putra said the company had obtained the government permit for the export.

Trikora said Pertamina would export between 200,000 and 300,000 barrels of Avtur per month to a company in Singapore, but he refused to name the company.

Trikora said Pertamina would sell the Avtur at the international market price. Currently, the international market price for Avtur is about US$65 per barrel.

Made from the petroleum fraction, Avtur is designed for plances with jet turbine engines and is a form of kerosene.

The company produces Avtur from its refineries in Dumai (Riau Province); Plaju (Palembang); Cilacap (Central java); and Balikpapan (East Kalimantan).

Trikora said Pertamina produces about 1.6 million barrels of Avtur per month, while the domestic demand for the fuel is only about 1.3 million barrels.

Pertamina can produce more Avtur because the company now is able to switch its refineries from producing domestic kerosene to Avtur.

Kerosene demand has declined significantly partly because of the government’s kerosene-to-liquified petroleum gas (LPG) conversion programme.

Trikora said that, with the conversion program, Pertamina could export more Avtur in future.