Indonesia`s 2007 fuel subsidy bill may increase

Indonesia's fuel subsidy bill may climb to 90 trillion rupiah ($9.86 billion) this year, amid rising global oil prices, but the government has no plan to raise domestic fuel prices, the energy minister said on Monday.

The government had allocated around 56 trillion rupiah in its 2007 budget for fuel subsidies assuming an average oil price of $60 a barrel, but subsidies in Asia-Pacific's only OPEC member are up with international prices above $90 a barrel.

"With our average oil price assumption of $72 a barrel, then the subsidy can reach 90 trillion in 2007," Purnomo Yusgiantoro was quoted by Reuters as telling reporters.