Pertamina cuts non-subsidized fuel prices

JAKARTA. State owned energy firm PT Pertamina is planning to cut non-subsidized gasoline and diesel prices by Rp 200 (2 US cent) per liter starting March 31 at 12 midnight. However, subsidized fuel prices is yet to be decided.

Pertamina's vice president of corporate communications, Wianda Pusponegoro, said this would be the second time Pertamina cut non-subsidized fuel prices this year, following a previous cut in mid-March.

She didn't say anything about subsidized fuel prices, which would be discussed in a limited meeting Wednesday before the announcement.

"Therefore, in this month alone, Pertamina has cut the prices of Pertamax, Pertamax Plus, Pertamina Dex and Pertalite fuel by Rp 400 per liter," she said in Jakarta on Tuesday, suggesting that such a measure would encourage consumers to purchase better quality fuel.

Furthermore, Wianda explained that Pertamina would closely monitor the availability of fuel stocks in gas stations. "With prices cut, consumption usually increases. To ensure that the people are served well, we has been instructed to prepare all gas stations with enough stock," she said.

With a Rp 200 cut per liter, the new prices would change to Rp 7,550 per liter for Pertamax gasoline and Rp 7,100 for Pertalite gasoline. On the other hand, the high-quality diesel Pertamina Dex is set at Rp 8,400 and Pertamax Dex at Rp 8,450. The price of conventional non-subsidized diesel would drop from Rp 7,150 per liter to Rp 6,950.

"The Rp 200 per liter price reduction is to be applied equally throughout the entire region," said Wianda. (Ayomi Amindoni)