Tomorrow, Bahlil Holds First Meeting To Discuss Fuel Subsidy

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said he would hold an inaugural meeting to discuss a new subsidy scheme for fuel oil (BBM), electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The meeting will also be attended by the relevant ministries. As is known, President Prabowo Subianto asked Bahlil to form a team related to the study of subsidies on target.

"Tomorrow we will start the inaugural meeting, actually we have a meeting, for us to look for the formulation," he said at a press conference for the Quick Win Program which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Sunday, November 3.

Furthermore, Bahlil said that one of the formulations discussed was indeed regarding the distribution of subsidies through Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) to the community.

However, Bahlil continued, other options were mixed, such as the distribution of fuel subsidies by BLT or as usual, which had been running.

"So we're just waiting, the President will give us 2 weeks, so we will finish this 2 weeks," he said.

Bahlil said this team was formed because as many as 30 percent of fuel and electricity subsidies were known to be not on target. He said the leakage of this subsidy was worth Rp. 100 trillion.

"But to be honest, I said yes, approximately 20 to 30 percent of fuel and electricity subsidies have the potential to be not on target, and that's big, the figure is approximately Rp. 100 trillion," he said.