Luhut Says Subsidized Fuel Purchase Will Be Tightened Starting August 17, Pertamina Opens Voice

Illustration (Photo: Doc Antara)

PT Pertamina (Persero) opened its voice regarding the statement by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan which said the government was targeting tightening the use of subsidies on August 17, 2024.

Pertamina's VP of Corporate Communication Fadjar Djoko Santoso emphasized that his party as a business entity is ready to carry out the directives given by the government.

"Pertamina is carrying out government directives," said Fadjar when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, July 10.

Fadjar said, so far Pertamina's efforts for the right subsidies have been carried out with various steps.

First, Pertamina uses information technology to monitor the purchase of subsidized fuel at gas stations in real time to ensure that consumers who buy are eligible people.

Second, the program to strengthen digitalization facilities and facilities at gas stations.

Pertamina is committed to digitizing all Pertamina gas stations, which reach more than 8,000 gas stations, including gas stations located in the Disadvantaged, Frontier, Outermost (3T) areas.

"And the result is that to date 82 percent of gas stations have been connected nationally. The more gas stations are connected to Pertamina's digitalization system, the easier it will be to monitor and supervise the distribution of subsidized fuel," continued Fadjar.

Third, Pertamina continues to increase cooperation with Law Enforcement Officials (APH) to increase supervision and prosecution of subsidized fuel abuse activities that are not in accordance with their designation.

Previously, through his Instagram upload, Luhut said that the tightening of subsidized fuel recipients could reduce the number of subsidized distributions to people who were not entitled and regulate that subsidies be more targeted.

Giving inappropriate subsidies (targets). That's now Pertamina has prepared. We hope that on August 17, we can start, where people who are not entitled to subsidies will be able to reduce them. We will count there," said Luhut through his official Instagram @luhut.panjaitan quoted Wednesday, July 10.