Commission VII Calls Central Harmonization Of HGBT Policy For State And Industrial Revenue

Illustration (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission VII DPR RI, Sugeng Suparwoto revealed that his party is currently harmonizing the policy of the Certain Natural Gas Price program (HGBT) for industry and state revenues.

Moreover, he said, the cheap gas price policy for 7 industrial sectors, namely fertilizer, petrochemicals, oleochemicals, steel, ceramics, glass, and rubber gloves in accordance with Presidential Regulation 121/2020, has problems in terms of state revenue.

"We are currently evaluating because there is input that gas as the main income from the state budget is experiencing problems in terms of state revenue. This is what is allegedly at the Ministry of Finance," he said at the Energy Corner, Tuesday, March 26.

As a partner of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Industry, Sugeng said that his party will continue to harmonize these two aspects in terms of state revenue and in terms of industrial competitiveness with natural gas prices of 6 dollars per MMBTU.

Moreover, according to him, this low-cost gas policy will certainly increase industrial competitiveness, absorb labor and increase income from the tax side, income from the tax side increases.

"We continue to synchronize this in accordance with the signal in the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) which allows state revenues to decrease if at this special price because gas prices are higher," continued Sugeng.

Previously, the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) noted that Indonesia had the potential to lose 1 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 15.67 trillion due to the policy of Certain Natural Gas Prices (HGBT).

Deputy for Finance and Commercialization of SKK Migas, Kurnia Chairi said the lost US $ 1 billion was caused by the government having to fill the gap or difference between HGBT and market prices.

Kurnia added, this figure is a temporary number and will still be calculated further.

He also said that the reduced state revenue was expected to be compensated for by the increase in performance and impact of the multiplier effect felt from industries that utilize HGBT.

"This is being evaluated to be able to formulate a policy to continue this HGBT in the future," continued Kurnia.