In his year-end statement here on Friday he said the government had experienced a world price that reached above US$100 per barrel and it was able to deal with it.
"There is no reason for increasing the fuel price just because the world price of crude is rising," he said.
He said the jump in the world price of crude could even become a blessing in disguise for accelerating energy diversification and renewable energy development.
As has been known the world price of crude has reached US$90 per barrel causing fear in the country it would increase the people`s burden.
It would be more so if the rise continued until the end of the first quarter of 2011 when the government`s decision to limit use of subsidized gasoline would be carried out (following an endorsement from the House of Representatives).
The decision has the potential to burden the people because people would change to non-subsidized gasoline which is more expensive as it is determined by market price.
Regarding the plan Darwin said the government would prioritize the preparation for the technical implementation of the regulation.
"It would not speed it up but it would make itself technically ready first," he said.
The minister said the world`s crude price hike would only strengthen the government`s argument on the need for implementing the decision to limit use of subsidized oils.
He said the subsidized fuels are basically the people`s rights and the rights should be bigger when the fuel price is higher.
"What has become a problem is a lot of people who are not rightful also enjoy the subsidy," he said.
(H-YH/A014/S026)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2010
