Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government`s effort to control the use of subsidized fuels is expected to save up to 2 million kiloliters of fuels, a minister said.

"According to our calculation, we can save approximately 2 million kiloliters," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here on Friday.

As such, the government would also be able to save funding of Rp20 trillion on the assumption that the current ICP was US$119 per barrel, he said.

Hatta added that the government would make every effort to efficiently use subsidized gasoline and diesel oil after their prices were not raised.

In fact, the budget allocations for subsidized energy in the revised 2012 state budget had been set at Rp225 trillion on the assumption the prices of subsidized fuels would be raised on April 1, he said.

He noted that if the use of subsidized fuels could be maximally controlled, the inflation rate would stay at 5 percent, well above the assumption of 6.8 percent in the revised 2012 state budget.

"Of course, we have calculated the inflation rate. It will not exceed 5 percent, given the control of subsidized fuels," he said.

He also said the government would not speculate on raising prices of subsidized fuels, as it was focusing on preparing the best option to control the use of subsidized fuels beginning on May 1.

The government was still undecided about which option would be put in place to control the use of subsidized fuels, he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012