World Oil Prices Slope, Government Reluctant To Lower Pertalite

Pertalite illustration (Photo: Doc. intermediate)

JAKARTA - Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Tutuka Ariadji revealed the reason the government has not lowered the price of Pertalite fuel even though the world's oil prices have recently decreased.

Tutuka revealed that currently the price of Pertalite in effect in the market is still below the actual economic price or price. It is known that Pertamina has set the price of Pertalite at IDR 10,000 per liter.

"The economic price is still above Rp. 10,000. Anyway, that's how much (Rp. 11,000)," Tutuka told the media, Tuesday, June 4.

Tutuka added that his party would only consider lowering Pertalite prices if world oil prices had touched the figure of 65 US dollars per barrel.

"If we have 65 barrels, we will tell you this later. Because now (the price) is still 69-70 US dollars per barrel. We can probably evaluate 65. The price is Rp. 10,000, right, if the price of oil is 65 US dollars per barrel, it might be the same as that," explained Tutuka.

For this reason, Tutuka reiterated that until now the government has not planned to lower the price of Pertalite, such as the price of other Pertamina's non-subsidized fuel.

It is known that WTI crude on Monday July 3 was at the level of US$70.37 per barrel, while Brent crude price was US$75.14 per barrel.

Just so you know, earlier on July 1, 2023, Pertamina adjusted the price of non-subsidized fuel, namely Pertamax Turbo, Pertamina Dex and Dexlite, which increased. Meanwhile, Pertamax and Pertalite and Solar Subsidy Fuel have not changed.

Pertamina raised the price of Pertamax Turbo, which was previously IDR 13,600 per liter to IDR 14,000 per liter for Jabodetabek and Bali.

Then the price of Pertamina Dex is priced at IDR 13,550 per liter from the previous IDR 13,250.

Meanwhile, Dexlite increased by Rp500 from the previous price of Rp12,650 to Rp13,150 per liter.