Get Ready! The Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Is Discussing The Plan To Increase Pertalite Price

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif said that the government is currently discussing a plan to increase the price of Pertalite fuel oil in response to high world crude oil prices. Arifin said the plan was already under discussion with the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto.

"The price of Pertalite is still being discussed in coordination with Pak Airlangga," said Arifin to the media, Tuesday, August 16.

He added that the government must change the presidential regulation (Perpres) No. 191 of 2014 before the decision was officially issued into the latest policy related to changes in fuel prices.

Regarding when the new tariffs will take effect, Arifin declined to comment. According to him, the government will first socialize the plan to increase the price of Pertalite to reduce public panic shopping.

For information, until July 2022, Pertalite consumption has exceeded 16.8 million kilo liters, equivalent to 73.04 percent of the total quota set at 23 million kilo liters. This high consumption figure makes Pertalite's quota remaining only 6.2 million kiloliters.

Meanwhile, the government has budgeted a subsidy of IDR 502 trillion for this year. However, the use of subsidized fuel until mid-August has almost reached the quota for the entire 2022 period.

The government has also given several signals that it will increase fuel prices.

Previously, the Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia asked the public to be prepared if the government later decided to increase the price of subsidized fuel oil (BBM).

"It feels like to hold on to the current fuel price, I have a feeling we should be prepared if, say, the fuel price hike happens," he said at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, August 12.

Not much different from the Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Susiwijono Moegiarso, who stated that the government was working on the most ideal price for the community if the increase policy was actually implemented. Even so, Susi was reluctant to specify what type of fuel would change the selling value.