TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Pertamina has asked PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) to be transparent in the calculation of natural gas price of US$14 per mmbtu. PGN is accused of not blending the price which causes price to be high.

“PGN must reveal the margin gained from the gas price. Please be transparent,” said Pertamina spokesperson Wianda Pusponegoro on Friday, November 13.

Pertamina denied being the cause of the high price. Through its subsidiary, PT Pertagas Niaga, gas prices from regasification and transportation is already high, which is around US$13.8 per mmbtu.

Wianda said 85 percent of the price component is regulated by the government. Some of the components that contribute significantly to the high price are toll fee which is US$2.58 and regasification cost of US$1.58 at Perta Arun Gas Regas Terminal.

However, PGN is deemed should be able to lower the price since there is another source, which is pipe gas from Pangkalan Susu managed by Pertamina EP. The price is US$8.31 per mmbtu.

Gas price from Regas Terminal and Pangkalan Susu can be mixed to make the price cheaper. If PGN conducts the price blending, Wianda said the price can be reduced to US$11 per mmbtu. “If PGN says the price is US$14 per mmbtu, where does it come from?”

ROBBY IRFANY