Get Ready! Purchases Of Pertalite And Subsidized Solar Will Be Limited, Sri Mulyani Asks Pertamina To Find The Best Scheme

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani said that the government is currently looking for the best scheme to protect state spending that is channeled in the form of subsidies and energy compensation.

Most recently, the Minister of Finance asked the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina to increase supervision over the distribution of fuel oil (BBM) labeled as subsidies. This was stated by the state treasurer when giving a press statement related to the realization of the state budget at his office yesterday.

"Of course later we will ask Pertamina to continue to control the amount of energy goods and raw materials, especially subsidized fuel oil, because we cannot allow the volume to be unlimited," he told the media crew, quoted on Tuesday, May 24.

According to the Minister of Finance, the economic condition that continues to show recovery has consequences for a stronger public consumption pattern. This is also driven by mobility which is almost at the pre-pandemic level.

"Economic activity is starting to recover, demand for goods, especially subsidized goods, is also increasing and we must be aware of this," he said.

In editorial notes, Pertamina handles at least two types of government energy subsidies and compensation, namely fuel in the form of diesel, kerosene and pertalite, as well as 3 kg LPG cylinders.

Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that this year's energy subsidy budget in the form of fuel and 3 kg LPG increased from Rp. 77.5 trillion to Rp. 149.4 trillion (ICP reference of US$ 100).

Then the fuel compensation budget for diesel and pertalite jumped significantly from Rp. 18.5 trillion to Rp. 213.2 trillion.

The magnitude of the subsidy and compensation figure is exacerbated by the government's debt burden to Pertamina and PLN of Rp. 109 trillion, which is an underpayment for the 2021 period.