A Number Of Pertamax Consumers In Kudus Have Switched To Pertalite

One of the Pertashop services in Kudus. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of consumers of Pertamax type of engine fuel (BBM) in Kudus Regency, Central Java, have begun to switch to buying Pertalite, following an increase in the price of Pertamax from the previous Rp. 9,000 per liter to Rp. 12,500 per liter.

Santi, a resident of Bae, Kudus, admitted that she initially bought Pertamax because the quality was felt when driving, the gas pull was lighter, compared to when using Pertalite.

However, he said, with the increase in the selling price of Pertamax, he was forced to switch to buying cheaper Pertalite at a price of IDR 7,650 per liter.

"The price difference of IDR 4,850 per liter can be used for other daily needs. Meanwhile, daily activities are only commuting to the office by motorbike," he said, quoted by Antara, Sunday, April 10.

The change in consumption patterns of Pertamax users switching to Pertalite is possible for other vehicle users because some Pertashop operators only provide Pertamax fuel.

Arif, one of the pertashop operators in the Jati area, admits that the demand for Pertamax is decreasing every day. From previously it could reach a thousand liters per day, now it's down by more than half.

"It is possible for consumers to switch to pertalite because the price disparity is quite high. In contrast, when the price difference is not much, Pertamax users will certainly remain," he said.

The pertashop operator in Bae District also conveyed the same thing that since the increase in the price of Pertamax per April 1, 2022, demand has decreased from previously reaching 600 liters per day, now it is reduced by half.

Pertashop is Pertamina's official distributor on a small scale to serve the needs of non-subsidized fuel. Based on data for April 2021, it is stated that in Kudus Regency there are five pertashops,