Wow, Sri Mulyani Says The Government Has Arrears In Energy Subsidies Of IDR 109 Trillion To Pertamina And PLN

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani revealed that the government currently still has debt arrears of Rp. 109 trillion to PT Pertamina and PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) as part of its commitment to fulfill energy subsidy compensation for the community.

According to the Minister of Finance, this value is a recapitulation of obligations until December 31, 2021 and has not taken into account subsidies this year.

In detail, the state treasurer said that the total debt to Pertamina reached Rp. 68.5 trillion. This figure includes the remaining underpayment of subsidies for the 2020 period, which is Rp. 15.9 trillion.

Meanwhile, for PLN, the government's total liabilities were recorded at IDR 24.6 trillion without any underpayments from 2020.

"Here, the state budget takes all the pressure that comes from fluctuations in oil prices so that people don't experience the impact," he said during an online press conference on the realization of the 2022 state budget, quoted on Tuesday, March 29.

The Minister of Finance explained that this is proof of the presence of the state in protecting the people while maintaining purchasing power so that economic activity can continue to run well.

"The state budget must take this consequence," he said.

Meanwhile, until February 2022, the amount of subsidies from the government has reached Rp. 21.7 trillion in the form of subsidies for fuel, LPG, and electricity.

The government itself plans to shift the budget for social assistance (bansos) to the energy subsidy sector considering that the price spikes for various important commodities are still happening to this day.