Finally, Pertamina officially raised fuel prices starting April 1, 2022, at 00.00 local time.
This price adjustment is done selectively, only applicable to non-subsidized fuel, namely Pertamax.
Pertamina claims that this non-subsidized fuel is only consumed by the public by 17 percent, of which 14 percent is the amount of consumption of Pertamax and 3 percent of the consumption of Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite and Pertamina Dex.
Meanwhile, subsidized fuels such as Pertalite and subsidized Solar, which are consumed by 83 percent of Indonesians, did not experience price changes or were set to remain stable at IDR 7,650 per liter.
Unsubsidized fuel RON 92 (Pertamax) is adjusted to IDR 12,500 per liter (for regions with a 5 percent motor vehicle fuel tax (Pajak Bahan Bakar Kendaraan Bermotor/PBBKB), from the previous price of IDR 9,000 per liter.
"Pertamina always considers the purchasing power of the community, the price of Pertamax remains more competitive in the market or compared to similar fuel prices from other gas station operators. This has only been done in the last 3 years, since 2019," explained Irto Ginting, Pjs. Corporate Secretary of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, SH C&T of PT Pertamina (Persero).
This price adjustment, Irto continued, is still far below its economic value.
Previously, the Head of the Communication Bureau, Public Information Services and Cooperation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Agung Pribadi, in a written statement said that by considering the March oil price which was much higher than February, the economic price or upper limit of general fuel RON 92 in April 2022 will be even higher than 14,526 rupiah per liter, which could be around 16,000 rupiah per liter.
"Thus, the Pertamax price adjustment to 12,500 rupiah per liter is still 3,500 rupiah lower than its economic value," Irto said.
"We do this so as not to burden the community too much," he continued.
With the new Pertamax price, Pertamina still hopes that the public will continue to choose higher quality unsubsidized fuel.
"The new price is still affordable, especially for the well-off. We also invite the public to be more economical by using fuel as needed," concluded Irto.
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