NUSA DUA, June 4: Indonesia’s oil reserves will be exhausted in 20 years if the current production level of 500 million barrels a year is maintained, a research group said on Tuesday.

Pelangi, an Indonesian research group focusing on energy and environment issues, said the use of liquid fossil fuels in the energy mix in Indonesia remains significant although it has decreased over the past 20 years.

Fossil fuels are used for half the fuel needs of industry, about 70 per cent in households and 99.9 per cent for transport, said the group in a statement.

It predicted that Indonesia would be a net oil importer in the next 10 years.

This spells disaster, said Moekti Soejachmoen, Pelangi deputy director.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a UN meeting on Bali island to prepare for the World Summit on Sustainable Development opening in Johannesburg on August 26.—AFP