TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government announced that it would evaluate the price of Premium fuel and Diesel fuel (solar) in April 2016 although the price of global crude oil continues to decline.
Director General of Oil and Gas of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry IGN Wiratmaja in his press release in Jakarta on Saturday said that the government would be consistent with the regulations that state the fuel price is evaluated every three month.
"We will be consistent with the prevailing policies unless there are ‘extreme’ cases,” he added.
In accordance with the regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 39 of 2014 on the Calculation of Fuel Retailed Price, as amended by the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 4 of 2015 and the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 39 of 2015, it is stated fuel price is determined every three month or if it is considered necessary, more than once in three months.
Wiratmaja added that the evaluation of fuel price every three-month has been discussed in previous studies.
"The evaluation of fuel price every three month have a positive effect, namely it can keep the stability of fuel price and it makes easier for the people and industries in making planning,” he added.
He added that if the price of fuel is determined every month, fuel price can rise and drop too fast.
"This instability can put the people in difficulties,” he added.
For the record, the price of premium outside Java and Bali determined by the government starting 5 January 2016 is Rp6,950 per liter and, while the price of subsidized solar is Rp5,650 per liter. In the meantime, the price of premium in Java and Bali is Rp7,050 per liter.
KELIK DEWANTO | ANTARA