JAKARTA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities have issued an official order to expand use of higher octane fuel during the upcoming Asian Games (Asiad) so as to address the air quality in cities hosting the sports event, an official at Indonesia's oil and gas firm Pertamina said here on Monday.

The official order was issued by Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry after it sent an official notification letter to the president related to the extensive use of higher-octane fuel during the Asiad due to environmental concerns, Pertamina Spokesperson Adiatma Sarjito said.

He added that the order would be applied in three cities set to host several matches of the 2018 Asiad slated for August 18 to September 2: Bandung, Jakarta and Palembang.

"The international requirement to host the sports event is that sulfur particles in the air must be no higher than 25 micrograms per meter square," Adiatma said.

To address the order, Pertamina will prioritize the distribution of fuel that fits with the requirement.

Due to the limited tanks in gas stations in those cities, Adiatman said that the order would consequently reduce the distribution of fuel that produces polluting particles in the air.

He added that Pertamax Turbo was the only type of Pertamina's fuel that fits with the ministry's order that requires Euro 4-quality fuel for public transportation vehicles used during the event.

The ministry's order will also apply during the International Monetary Fund-World Bank annual meeting slated for October this year in Bali.