Regarding Pertalite Price Will Increase, SOE Minister: Pertamina Has Not Received Assignment

Illustration of people filling fuel oil or Pertalite fuel at Pertamina gas stations. (Between)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said so far there has been no assignment received by Pertamina regarding the increase in the price of Pertalite fuel oil (BBM). The increase in fuel prices or what he calls the reduction in subsidies is still under discussion across ministries.

"Then whether the plan to reduce subsidies is still being discussed, there is no decision yet. So it's from the Coordinating Ministry, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Minister of Finance. If there is a decision, then Pertamina will have an assignment," he told reporters at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 16.

Erick said, if there is a decision to increase fuel prices, his party will wait for an assignment from the government. Currently, what Erick knows is that the value of the high fuel subsidy reaches Rp502 trillion.

"So to this day I as the minister of SOEs have not received such a decision, I'll just wait," he explained.

Previously, the 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, it is still being coordinated 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.