TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Ministry's Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Director General, Karliansyah, said the government was committed to controlling air pollution from motorcycles. This is in line with state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina’s plan to reduce the distribution of the subsidized Premium gasoline.

“Alhamdulillah, last Monday night I met with Pertamina’s operational director and he said that as of January 1, 2020, Premium gasoline in Java, Madura, and Bali would be eliminated, following other cities in Indonesia,” said Karliansyah in a virtual discussion, Friday, November 13, 2020.

He reiterated that the government had a long way in the elimination of lead from gasoline. Since the program was launched by the President and the Environment and Forestry Minister at that time, ten years later beginning July 1, 2006, Indonesia has been free of lead gasoline.

Karliansyah hoped the implementation of Euro 4 fuel would not take a long time. Fuel suppliers were also expected to immediately build oil refineries that could meet the need for environmentally-friendly gasoline.

Pertamina Promotion and Marketing Communications Vice President Dholly Arifun Dahlia said his side was not trying to scrap Premium gasoline, but rather reduce supply areas of the gasoline until December 2020.

Dholly said Pertamina was also educating the public about the benefits of Pertalite gasoline for motorized vehicles and would match its price with Premium's.

Read: Govt Sets Down Fuel Prices, Premium at Rp6,450 Per Liter

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO