For Pertalite Prices Do Not Increase, Pertamina Will Get Compensation?

Pertamina gas station (photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The provision of subsidies or compensation to PT Pertamina (Persero) for the Premium mix (RON 88) in Pertalite is still under discussion by four ministries. The four ministries in question are the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs along with the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of SOEs.

This step is taken so that the price of Pertalite does not increase. "Premium volume has decreased considerably and in our discussion of Pertalite, we will try not to increase it," said Deputy for Coordination of State-Owned Enterprises Business Development, Research and Innovation at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Montty Girianna at CNBC's Energy Corner, Wednesday, February 2.

However, Montty ensured that with the compensation given, the price that the public would buy would not be much different from the previous price.

He continued, if the price of Pertalite does not increase, the government will provide compensation to Pertamina. For this reason, in the next few days the government will still calculate the details of the price and the amount of compensation that will be given.

"The numbers are already there and we will determine them in the coordination meeting," added Montty.

Although the compensation amount has not been determined, Montty ensures that the price set will not be much different from the existing one because the volume of pertalite distributed is also not much different.

"The point is that Pertamina should not suffer losses. We also make sure the price of pertalite is affordable for the community," he said.

Meanwhile, for the closed subsidy scheme suggested by Pertamina's President Commissioner Basuki Tjahaya Purnma, Montty said he would still look at the performance of the compensation that has now been determined.

"Of course we will consider it by continuing to evaluate it periodically. If there is something better, of course we will see," he concluded.