By Wilda Asmarini
JAKARTA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia's Pertamina is looking to process up to 1.2 million barrels per month ofcrude from Algeria and Malaysia at an overseas refinery, anofficial at the state-owned energy company said on Wednesday, inan effort to cut costs.
"We're approaching partner candidates, and it doesn'tnecessarily have to be with Shell again. It could be withanother company," said Daniel Purba, senior vice president ofPertamina's Integrated Supply Chain unit.
Pertamina inked a deal with Shell earlier this yearto process around 1 million barrels per month of Iraqi crude ata Singapore refinery.
The company is now seeking a partner to process 300,000barrels of Algerian crude and up to 900,000 barrels of Malaysiancrude each month, which is currently being shipped to Indonesiafor refining, Purba said.
"Whatever brings maximum benefits to Pertamina in relationto domestic fuel supply, we will do it. The point is we want toseek value creation in the international market," he said.
Pertamina currently purchases around 6 million barrels ofRON88 gasoline and 3 million barrels of RON92 gasoline per monthfrom the international market to meet domestic demand.
The company expects to begin importing RON92 gasolinethrough the refining agreement with Shell in the fourth quarterof this year, Purba said, noting that the total volume of crudebeing processed through the Shell deal would not change. (Writing by Fergus Jensen; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)