TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dwi Soetjipto, CEO of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, said that the company will adjust the prices of fuel in all regions of Papua and West Papua. The adjustment will be made based on President Joko Widodo's instruction. The President expected that the price of fuel in Papua will be the same as in Western Indonesian regions.
Dwi said that new fuel price will be similar to prices in Java and will apply for all types of fuel. Dwi added that President Jokowi will make the official announcement during his work visit in Papua, Tuesday, October 18, 2016.
Dwi explained that adjusting fuel prices in Papua will not affect the company’s financial balance because Pertamina, according to Dwi, has been successful carrying out its company efficiency program within the last two years. Dwi explained that the efficiency program has allowed the company to book more profits, which in turn will be used to subsidize fuel prices in Papua.
"The profit [Pertamina made] is for our distant brothers, who purchased fuel with a high price all this time," Dwi said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN