Government Requested By Gercep To Prepare Reserve Plan For Subsidized Fuel Distribution, Puan Maharani: Critical Pertalite Quota

This is because subsidized fuel oil (BBM) has already burdened the state budget and requires a contingency plan for its distribution.

"DPR hopes that the government will move quickly to prepare a contingency plan when the Pertalite quota is really critical," said Puan in an official statement, quoted on Friday, August 12.

Puan added, pertalite consumption is approaching the subsidy quota limit set by the government, which is 23.05 million kiloliters (KL).

Meanwhile, the existing reserves are estimated to only be distributed until September 2022.

As of last July, pertalite consumption has reached 16.8 million KL.

Puan continued, the high consumption of Pertalite was due to the abolition of premium fuel types.

For that, continued Puan, the contingency plan needs to be accompanied by an increase in the fuel subsidy budget for the people who really need it.

"Moreover, in a number of areas there has been a shortage of metallic acid and has made it difficult for the community," he continued.

He appealed to the government not to ignore this fact, so that the lower middle class could still access subsidized fuel.

“Obviously, this will burden the small community, especially those whose livelihoods are very dependent on pertalite fuel. Extra ordinary steps need to be taken to overcome the pertalite crisis,” said Puan.

On the other hand, he said, the fuel subsidy has actually sucked up the state budget of up to Rp502 trillion and is in danger of swelling because the pertalite consumption figure is predicted to increase.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also urged that the program to limit the purchase of subsidized fuel be implemented immediately.

"In order not to burden the APBN even more but also to reach the lower middle class, limiting the purchase of subsidized fuel can be a good solution," said Puan.

He also asked the government to be more massive in socializing the targeted subsidy program and issuing regulations for limiting subsidized fuel.

"That way, subsidies from the government, including the allocation of additional budgets, are truly targeted at being given to people who are entitled to receive them," concluded Puan.