Ministry Projects Fuel Hike in Coming Months
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Rabu, 29 Juli 2015 14:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Energy and Mineral Resources Directorate General is predicting a fuel price hike in August, September or October, reports said on Wednesday, July 29, 2015.
When confirmed about it after a meet and greet with the SKK Migas oil contractors , Energy Minister Sudirman Said declined to comment. GN Wiratmadja, director general of oil and gas, delivered the fuel hike prediction through the DG's official website.
According to Wirat, if the hike takes effect in August, the Premium gasoline price could be raised to Rp8,000-Rp8,200 per liter. Meanwhile, Solar diesel price is not projected to rise as it is not significantly affected by the global oil market turmoil.
A Premium gasoline price of Rp8,600 per liter is based on the DG's calculation and observation over global oil price movements in the last six months. The calculation is also based on a rupiah assumption of Rp12,989 per US dollar.
Wirat said that adjusting fuel prices every six months is a stable option. "The people's economic condition is not ready to face an oil pricing system that changes every month," said Wirat.
The hike projection contradicts Minister Sudirman's recent statement that subsidized fuel prices will not fluctuate anytime soon.
The minister had also said that the profit gained from the global oil price decline since early July could be used to compensate for Pertamina's losses.
ROBBY IRFANY