Dahlan Is Surprised That Pertamina Has Not Lowered Fuel Prices

JAKARTA - The world oil price is experiencing a downward trend, aka falling. In fact, the price can be cheaper than the cost of production. However, the price of fuel that Pertamina sells has yet to go down.

Former SOE Minister Dahlan Iskan spoke about the continuing decline in world oil prices. He was surprised that PT Pertamina (Persero) had not yet lowered the selling price of BBM.

In fact, in a quarterly decision some time ago, Pertamina still maintained its fuel price. This means that within the next three months, fuel prices will remain in the same position.

"So what can we do, we should just wait for mercy. It's up to when the fuel price will be lowered. We leave it entirely to the kindness who has the authority to lower it," said Dahlan, quoted from his blog disway.id in Jakarta, Friday, May 1st.

Dahlan said, basically Indonesia is a tolerant nation. Therefore, in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic which is increasingly widespread, the public is tolerating Pertamina. Because, if it can't be considered extreme and not Pancasial.

"We have to be tolerant that Pertamina is not a pure oil trader. If the wholesale price goes down, the selling price can immediately go down. If the current world crude oil price is only 20 dollars per barrel, the price of gasoline can be immediately reduced to around Rp5,000 per liter. "he said.

Not only that, according to Dahlan, the public must understand that Pertamina also has its own oil refinery and oil well. Where, both require operating costs and oil wells must be guarded not to die.

"All of that costs money. We are the ones who can be the donors. That is why in America oil is sold at any price, as long as someone wants to buy it," he said.

However, Dahlan said, new problems would arise if no one bought oil, while all the tanks were full. So, what happens is that the oil will spill everywhere and pollute the human earth.

Meanwhile, he continued, the oil well itself will continue to flow oil to the tank. It can't be closed. Even if you force it to stop by closing the faucet, what happens is a leak due to pressure.

According to Dahlan, if this pandemic state lasts longer, it is not impossible that this problem could occur. Thus, the only way to cover the well with special cement, until the bottom of the well is in the bowels of the earth.

"Then the well is RIP forever. Later, to revive it is very expensive, the same as the cost of digging a new well. Turning off the well also costs money," he said.

Moreover, said Dahlan, if you have to shut down an oil refinery, it will cost you a lot. Segingga, it would be better if it continued to flow in the hope that someone would still buy oil. This is because oil refineries must continue.

"So Pertamina must continue to operate its wells. At all costs from all of you. Pertamina must also keep running its refineries. At the expense of all of you. Alhamdulillah. In this month of Ramadan we can give more charity. Our biggest charity is to Pertamina. , "he said.

According to Dahlan, people should actually feel sorry for Pertamina. This is because the large income cannot be greater. This is the result of buying less gasoline than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, his income fell by almost 50 percent.

This condition made Dahlan remember the incident when the price of BBM soared, when the price of crude oil converged at 100 dollars per barrel.

"I remember Pak Jusuf Kalla's first tip. When he had to raise the fuel price very high. His tips were: raise the fuel the day before the month of Ramadan. So that the next day there will be no big demonstrations. So don't expect fuel prices to fall as long as there is still Ramadan. In fact, maybe, as long as there is still COVID-19, "he concluded.