Indonesia's president postponed a trip to China, Thailand and Brunei on Monday to focus on the sensitive issue of domestic oil shortages. In recent weeks, shortages of some oil products and fuels amid soaring global prices has led to long lines at petrol stations in some parts of Asia Pacific's only OPEC member country. "Because of domestic problems, especially related to efforts overcoming oil products shortages, my visit to China, Thailand and Brunei is postponed," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said. "I have asked for understanding from the leaders of China, Thailand and Brunei through diplomatic channels. We asked for postponement until the problem of oil products shortages can be overcome," he told reporters. The trip had been scheduled for July 13-July 20. A lack of fresh investment and ageing wells has seen production decline and Indonesia turn from a net oil exporter to an importer in the last year. In March the government was forced to take the unpopular measure of cutting domestic fuel subsidies in a bid to rein in budget spending on imports. Demand for dollars has also seen the local rupiah currency slide. An official from state oil company Pertamina said on Monday supply in most of areas of the country was improving. "There are only minor areas that have oil products stocks still below safety levels," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. Pertamina currently has 19 days national oil products stocks and will increase to that to 22 days by the end of this month, another company official said.
