TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pertamina marketing director Ahmad Bambang said that his company conducted a market test for Pertamax Turbo, a research octane number 98 fuel, in European events attended by Lamborghini.

“[The test] has been started since two weeks ago,” Bambang said in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Saturday, March 26, 2016.

Bambang said that the trial had been scheduled to last for three months. Bambang added that Pertamina would apply for a permit so that the fuel could be marketed in Indonesia. Bambang hopes that the product will be launched this year.

Bambang revelaed that Pertamax Turbo was shipped to Europe with RON 100 content. In order to adjust the fuel with Lamborghini’s standards, Pertamax Turbo was mixed with RON 93 fuel and other additive substances to produce RON 98 content.

Prior to the expansion to Europe, Bambang revealed that Pertamina had to pay for an environment tax of US$1 for a liter of Pertamax Turbo. Bambang said that he had not calculated yet the revenue from the market test. However, he predicted that the sales could generate profit. Bambang hopes that Pertamina could sell 5 kiloliters of Pertamax Turbo a month.

Bambang forecasted that Pertamax Turbo would be available for Rp 10,000 (US$73 cents) per liter. The product is expected to replace Pertamax Racing sold for Rp 50,000 (US$3.7) per liter, since sports car owners prefer to use Pertamax Plus, Instead of Pertamax Racing.

Bambang expressed optimism that Pertamax Turbo could be well-received in the local market. With an insignificant price gap with Pertamax Plus (RON 92), Bambang said that Pertamax Turbo shift customers’ preference.

LINDA HAIRANI