Pertamina to Raise Non-subsidized Fuel Prices Soon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Wianda A. Pusponegoro, a spokesperson with state-run oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, said her company would increase the prices of non-subsidized fuels—Pertamax, Pertamax Plus and Pertamina Dex—in the near future.

“Hopefully it won’t be long from now,” Wianda said on Thursday, May 28, 2015.

Wianda did not mention any specific date as to when the new prices would be announced, instead she explained that Pertamina would adjust its fuel prices every two weeks as part of its corporate act. Wianda did not specify by how much the prices would be increased either.

“The index market prices for non-subsidized fuels are also climbing. We’ll just follow the market,” she said.

Wianda added Pertamina would communicate the planned increase with the government first so as to keep the commotion ensuing from the former’s past plans to raise fuel prices from recurring.

In its circular to all gas stations dated May 14, 2015, Pertamina sought to increase Pertamax price from Rp8,800 to Rp9,600, Pertamax Plus from Rp10,050 to Rp10,550 and Pertamina Dex from Rp11,900 to Rp12,200—yet the plans were scrapped only hours before they were projected to take effect on May 15.

“There’s no wrong in this action, this is not a form of the government’s intervention either,” she said.

Presently, the prices of Shell Super—equal to Pertamax—have reached Rp9,100 in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Greater Jakarta), and Rp9,200 in Bandung. The prices of Shell V-Power—equal to Pertamax Plus—in Greater Jakarta and Bandung are Rp 10,300 and Rp10,400, respectively. The prices of Diesel Shell—equal to Pertamina Dex—are presently pegged at Rp11,800 in Greater Jakarta and Rp11,900 in Bandung, respectively.

KHAIRUL ANAM