"We ask that the limitation policy should be implemented to prevent an increase in subsidy," Deputy Finance Minister Anny Ratnawati said here on Tuesday.
She said her ministry had asked the energy and mineral resources (ESDM) ministry to coordinate the implementation of the policy in the second semester of this year at the latest.
"We ask the ESDM ministry which will coordinate it to carry out the limitation (of subsidized fuel consumption) policy because the consumption trend now is hither," she said.
She said that if the limitation policy was implemented this year the budget deficit could be maintained at 2 plus-minus 0.1 percent.
"We will ask the ESDM ministry to carry out the limitation because otherwise it would have implications on the increase in fuel oil and electricity subsidies," she said.
Regarding deficit, Anny said that it was still under discussion but the finance ministry hoped that it would not be higher than the 2.1 percent figure.
Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa has said that the limitation policy needed to be implemented but the option was that premium gasoline consumption should not be limited.
He wanted that subsidized fuels would correctly be used by those who really needed and deserved it.
"We have to remain tight and be disciplined in the use of fuels and if there is over consumption that means that there is something wrong. This is what I mean something that has to be corrected," the chief economic minister said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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