Regarding Pertamina's Discourse Following BP AKR To Remove BBM RON 90, The Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Said This

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif opened his voice about BP-AKR's move to remove fuel with an octane value of 90 or BP 90 from the list of fuel being sold.

According to Arifin, this step is an internal policy of the company and the government, there is no plan to do the same.

"That's his corporate policy. If we are still," Arifin told the media crew quoted on Friday, September 15.

According to him, if the abolition is carried out, the abolition of Pertalite, which has the status of a Special Assignment Fuel Type (JBKP), will actually burden the state budget even more.

"Pertalite is because if we increase the subsidy, we will increase the magnitude," continued Arifin.

He also highlighted the upward trend in world oil prices, so that Pertalite's decision to remove it had not yet been made.

It is known, if the current world crude oil price touched the figure of 92 US dollars per barrel while the assumption of the 2023 State Budget was 90 US dollars per barrel.

"Now how much is the price of crude oil now? 92 US dollars per Barrel. It's terrible," said Arifin.

For this reason, he continued, the public needs to realize that the use of fuel according to the type of vehicle, including starting to switch to using fuel that is added to be environmentally friendly.

"There must be something to think about so that the public must also make this one, which is urgent. Then in the future we have to think about making a cleaner one," explained Arifin.

Arifin also said as many as 40 percent of vehicles do not meet emission standards, so it is necessary to use fuel with high octane levels and install converters to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, sulfur oxides (SOx).

"Now there are 40 percent (vehicles) that do not meet emission standards. Now, there are tools that can be installed to be able to support NOx and SOx," concluded Arifin.

Previously reported, BP AKR's Fuel Filling Station (SPBU) no longer sells fuel oil (BBM) with 90 octane (RON) or BP 90 since August 1.

President Director of BP AKR, Vanda Laura said, if the fuel product is no longer sold since August 1, 2023 and is no longer available in the areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (Jabodetabek) and East Java.

"Along with the increasing public awareness of the use of quality fuel with higher RON, as of August 1, 2023 BP AKR will no longer provide and sell BP 90 fuel at all BP AKR gas stations in the Greater Jakarta and East Java areas," said Vanda when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, September 12.

He added that currently quality fuel products available in the entire gas station bp network are BP Ultimate, BP 92 and BP Diesel.