"We are not doubted (to raise the fuel price). The government along with the House of Representatives have been preparing its compensation," the minister said after inaugurating 375 students of the official Oil and Gas Academy (PTK Akamigas) in Cepu, Blora District, Central Java Provinsi, on Wednesday.
PTK Akamigas that has 12 study programs ranging from D1 to D4 degrees is under the auspices of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministery that was established in 1967.
According to Minister Jero, the fuel price hike has an impact to the low class people.
"Therefore the compensation should be prepared thoroughly," the minister said, adding that the fuel price will not be raised until after completing of the compensation discussion.
Jero asked all parties to wait for the completion of the compensation talks on the revised state budget 2013 along with the House of Representatives (DPR).
"We hope discussion of the compensation can be completed before the end of the upcoming June," he noted.
The government is absolutely able to raise the subsidized fuel price without being approved by the DPR, however, to decide an allocation of compensation should be discussed with the House, Jero said.
According to him, the government has planned to raise the subsidized price of diesel oil worth Rp1,000 per liter, and Rp2,000 for gazoline per liter after the compensation can be emposed.
Meanwhile, National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana who is also head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) expressed hope the deliberation on the draft revision of the state budget will be completed on June 17, 2013 as scheduled so as to give certainty about the government`s plan to raise the subsidized fuel prices.
"If everything goes as scheduled (fuel oil price hike) can be done. When exactly it will be raised is the authority of the President," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that any increase in subsidized fuel prices will depend on the House`s approval of cash compensation for the poor. Reporting by Kelik Dewanto (B003)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
