Jakarta – Fuel imports undertaken by state oil and gas company PT Pertamina have exceeded annual consumption by more than 50 percent, an official said on Thursday.

This month alone Pertamina would import 17.8 million barrels of fuel, consisting of gasoline and diesel oil, Achmad Faisal, chairman of Pertamina's fuel division, said.

By comparison, total fuel consumption nationwide reached 171,000 kiloliters per day and was projected to increase to 184,000 kiloliters per day, Achmad said without giving details.

"Our fuel imports used to exceed national consumption by 30 percent, but up to July our imports already exceeded consumption by 50 percent," he said, urging people to conserve.

"Without any conservation drive, national fuel consumption is projected to jump to between 63 million and 65 million kiloliters this year, from only 59.6 million kiloliters earlier," he said.

Achmad further explained that gasoline consumption had exceed the quota by 10 percent, while kerosene and diesel oil by five percent and 10 percent, respectively.