Airlangga Denies No Subsidized Fuel Restrictions

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: Antara)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that the government has no plans to restrict the purchase of subsidized fuel oil (BBM) on August 17, 2024.

"There are no restrictions on fuel," he told the media crew at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Office on Tuesday, July 16.

Even so, Airlangga emphasized that the government will only conduct socialization related to the purchase of subsidized fuel that is more targeted so that it will be very beneficial for the community.

"There are no restrictions on fuel, socialization to be right on target," he said.

Airlangga said the government was preparing a scenario related to the socialization of the purchase of subsidized fuel that was more targeted and would report the scenario to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Yes, of course we are preparing a scenario, and the scenario will be reported to the president first," he explained.

Meanwhile, Airlangga said that regarding the government's plan to launch new low sulfur fuel, it would not be on August 17, 2024.

"Yes, if Euro 4 is low in sulfur and the date is not the 17th," he said.

Previously, Airlangga had held a coordination meeting with the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif, and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.

In addition, the Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Ministry of Finance Febrio Kacaribu, Head of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) Erika Retnowati, and PT Pertamina (Persero).

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Wahyu Sakti Trenggono said the meeting was held to discuss the plan to distribute subsidized fuel oil (BBM).

"Oh (talked about) the fuel problem," he told the media crew at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Office on Tuesday, July 16.

Regarding the timing of its implementation, Trenggono said, the purchase of subsidized fuel that is right on target will begin in early September 2024. This also rejects the discourse on restrictions that will be carried out on August 17, 2024.

"No (17 August), September. September 1. But not yet," he said.

Trenggono emphasized that the meeting was related to subsidized fuel based on the type of user, including for fishermen. However, he was reluctant to tell the details of which vehicles were subject to restrictions.

"Yes, that's roughly, but nothing has changed (for fishermen). There are restrictions on certain vehicles, which will definitely go to the Coordinating Minister," he said.