Ahok Opens The Condition Of Losses To PT Pertamina's Debt

Ahok (second from the left) while still serving as President Commissioner of Pertamina on a visit to the Refinery Master Development Plan in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. (Instagram/@basukibtp)

JAKARTA - Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok opened up about the condition of the company PT Pertamina (Persero) when he was first appointed as President Commissioner. At that time, said Ahok, Pertamina could potentially lose as much.

Ahok said Pertamina's potential loss at that time reached 1 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 15.65 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp. 15,600 per US dollar). According to Ahok, the loss was caused by the fuel oil subsidy (BBM) policy.

"So, imagine how many years the subsidy at Pertamina will be lost. When I enter, I will lose 1 billion US dollars. Then, I said there are more than 200 companies (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren), more than 100 are active, the money is not known," Ahok said in a discussion themed Ahok Is Back, Jakarta, Thursday, February 8.

According to Ahok, the assignment of fuel subsidies and the increase in world crude oil prices made the company bear heavy burdens. The company's condition is increasingly depressed when financial management of its children and grandchildren is not well controlled.

"So imagine that the company's grandchildren and great-grandchildren have deposit money, mother and father owe money. Why debt money? Because paying this subsidy, it's still being audited next year, how much do you want to pay to Pertamina? But buying oil is cash overseas, "he said.

In fact, Ahok revealed that Pertamina was forced to apply for a loan or credit at Hinpunan Bank Milik Negara (Himbara) to pay for the difference in oil prices, as a result of the assignment of fuel subsidies.

"Once the Himbara bank has set a loan, Pertamina is 'exploring' everywhere, taking money, some IDR 5 million, some IDR 10 million, short-term loans for sure the interest is crazy," he said.

Ahok said that when he was appointed as Komut Pertamina, he received a special task from shareholders to resolve the company's financial problems.

Furthermore, Ahok said that he also started steps to improve the company's finances by controlling all income to the company's great-grandson. The goal is that Pertamina no longer makes loans to carry out assignments.

"When I entered, the first step was to all the money to the grandchildren of our company's great-grandson, we had to control it. Don't let us borrow money, under an adult party," said Ahok.

Ahok also asked the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani to pay for the assignment of fuel subsidies without waiting for the assignment to be completed 100 percent.

"I told the Minister of Finance why you have to wait up to 100 percent (to pay for fuel subsidies), 80 percent has been paid first, the same, we will adjust the rest," he continued.