TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned energy company Pertamina raised the prices of non-subsidized fuel (BBM). Pertamina said the price adjustment was influenced by the price of crude oil in the international market.

Energy observer Marwan Batubara suggested the government ensure that the subsidized fuel distribution will not miss the target.

"What's more important is how to prevent subsidized fuel from being misused," Marwan told Tempo on Monday, February 26.

Read: Minister Darmin: Fuel Price Hike Could Lead to Higher Inflation

Marwan pointed out that many of mining industries use subsidized fuel.

"If the non-subsidized fuel price increased, people will use the subsidized ones," he said.

Marwan said the increasing prices of non-subsidized fuels Pertamax (RON 92), Pertamax Turbo (RON 98), Dex (CN 53), and Dexlite (CN 51) will have impacts on inflation. However, he predicted that the impact would not be significant.

As long as the gap between the non-subsidized and subsidized fuel prices remains close, Marwan claimed, people will still afford using Pertamax. However, people will again considerate subsidized fuel if the increased price is high enough.

Read: No Change to Fuel Price Brings Positive Impact, Expert Says

The government, Marwan went on, must also keep the policies related to the fuel price hike remain transparent. The transparency includes international geopolitical conditions and the law of demand and supply.

"These two factors [supply and demand, and geopolitics] must be anticipated and considered by the government," he said.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI | SYAFIUL HADI | ROBBY IRFANY