Observers Call Pertalite Prices Supposedly Down To IDR 8,000 Per Liter

JAKARTA - Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira believes that the price of Pertalite should be IDR 8,000 per liter.

"This Pertalite subsidy should have been able to price 8,000 per liter," Bhima told VOI, Wednesday, January 11.

Bhima added that currently the public is also asking not only for Pertamax prices to be adjusted and announced more transparently, but also for Pertalite and Solar.

"Yesterday, the reason that subsidized fuel was increased was due to expensive crude oil, now the price of oil is at 75 US dollars per barrel, yes, Pertalite and Solar should also lower the price," added Bhima.

Bhima also positively welcomed the government's proposal to announce adjustments to fuel prices every week because it is adjusted to world oil prices which also fluctuate every day.

"The price change scheme for non-subsidized fuel is legal every week, especially with the trend of crude prices that are decreasing. So those that announce it go up and down directly Pertamina with a transparent price formula," he continued.

He also considered this to be good compared to the ups and downs of Pertamax prices being used as political commodities. "For example, there are officials who want to appear when the fuel price announcement goes down, but once it goes up secretly," explained Bhima.

Meanwhile, regarding inflation caused by adjustments to fuel prices every week, Bhima said that in the short term, if fuel prices decreased, inflation could also be lower.

"But on the other hand, in the era of high crude oil prices, the announcement of the effect on inflation every week is faster," concluded Bhima.