If it is not regulated, (it is very likely) that the quota that has been set for one year will not suffice. This is to maintain our energy securityJakarta (ANTARA) - The regulations for Pertalite and subsidized diesel purchases are aimed at maintaining supply as well as ensuring effective and efficient distribution, according to the Presidential Staff Office.
In the event of no set arrangements for those two fuels, the distribution might exceed the set quota, and it would compromise national energy security, Main Expert at the Presidential Staff Office Hageng Nugroho noted in his statement on Wednesday.
“If it is not regulated, (it is very likely) that the quota that has been set for one year will not suffice. This is to maintain our energy security," he stated.
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As per July 1, 2022, PT Pertamina Persero would put the MyPertamina application to trial, setting it as a requirement for distributing Pertalite and Solar fuels to eligible users. The trial will be implemented in some cities and districts over the five provinces of West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, West Java, and Yogyakarta, Nugroho stated.
He noted that the regulation was a form of the state's responsibility in maintaining the availability of supplies by taking the people's purchasing power into account.
The government had subsidized the fuel in order to suppress the increase in fuel prices in the domestic market due to the spike in the global oil price that brought it to US$120 per barrel. However, due to the huge difference in the prices of subsidized and non-subsidized fuels, the realization of public consumption of subsidized fuel had exceeded the set quota.
Pertalite consumption had reached 80 percent in May 2022 from the allotted quota of 23.05 million kiloliters. Subsidized diesel consumption has reached 93 percent of the total quota of 15.10 million kiloliters.
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Thus, the distribution of subsidized fuel must be regulated, by both setting the quota and determining the segmentation of intended recipients, he emphasized. Currently, the segmentation for subsidy diesel recipients had been set, so that the distribution had clearer targets. On the other hand, Pertalite users were not segmented as much and hence resulted in a broad range of recipients.
"Therefore, it is necessary to regulate who can (get) pertalite. For example, are (owners of) luxury cars still allowed (to get that share), even though they can afford non-subsidized ones?" he pointed out.
He commended the initiatives and innovations of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga that will conduct distribution trials for the fuels by using the MyPertamina system. He urged everyone to partake in monitoring and controlling the progress of the program, so it would offer tangible benefits for the public.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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