Community Still Needed, Premium Not Completely Removed

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy for BUMN Business Development Coordination, Research, and Innovation at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Montty Girianna, said the government would still provide Premium Fuel Oil (BBM) reserves. This is because there are still some areas that have not been able to fully switch to Pertalite.

"By nature, premium consumption has indeed decreased and will disappear by itself, but Pertamina is still preparing stock. Just in case," he said in Energy Corner, Wednesday, February 2.

Thus, the government's plan to abolish Premium BBM has not been fully implemented. According to him, it is possible that there will be great demand from the community.

In addition, the components contained in Pertalite are a mixture of Premium and Pertamax so that Pertamina will still provide stock.

"This premium will still exist and be provided by Pertamina for the Pertalite mixture," he explained.

He added, one of the reasons for switching Premium fuel to Pertalite is to reduce carbon emissions and utilize Pertamax which is of good quality and is mixed with Pertamax.

"That way we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce carbon dioxide," he said.

He also cannot confirm when Premium will completely disappear from Indonesia, considering that there are still areas outside Java that still use Premium fuel.

"It's difficult to answer because there is still consumption in small areas, but this year, if you can, there will be no more premium," he said.

Previously, in a presentation on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif revealed that the amount of premium circulating in the community is only 0.03 percent and will naturally disappear.

"Almost zero and naturally it will disappear by itself," he said.