Pertamax sales up 4 % since June 1

State oil and gas company Pertamina said non-subsidized pertamax gasoline sales rose 4 percent following the government`s policy banning official cars from using subsidized premium gasoline starting June 1. "Since June 1 at 00.00 we have implemented the government`s policy," the company`s marketing and commercial director, Hanung Budya said after monitoring the implementation of the government`s subsidized fuel austerity program at the Tendean gasoline station in South Jakarta on Monday. He said the government`s policy had so far been running smoothly. Non-subsidized pertamax gasoline sales in the past three days rose 4 percent compared to a week earlier, he said. "So the policy is working well in the field. There was an increase in the sales of pertamax gasoline on Saturday (June 2) and Sunday (June 3). I think the sale increase will be more than 4 percent on Monday (June 4) and Tuesday (June 5)," he said. Hanung said Pertamina was ready to ensure the success of the government`s subsidized fuel austerity program. Pertamina would always try to ensure the adequate supply of pertamax and pertamax plus gasoline as a substitute for official cars` gasoline, he said. Starting June 1, 2012 no official cars of the central government, regional governments and state-owned companies are allowed to use subsidized premium gasoline. The cars carry stickers which read "This car does not use subsidized fuel". The policy to ban official cars from using subsidized fuel is based on Regulation of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister No. 29/2012. The policy is valid in Jakarta and its surrounding areas as of June 1 and Java and Bali as of August 1 this year.