tate-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno has told state-owned energy company Pertamina to be prepared for its new job of distributing subsidized Premium brand gasoline all across the country to ensure the availability of the fuel.
She said in Batam, Riau Islands on Wednesday that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had instructed Pertamina to maintain a steady supply of Premium prior to Ramadhan, which would start in the middle of May.
“I stress that Pertamina should be able to distribute Premium fuel both in Java and outside Java. […] Pertamina has to support the development program as stated by President Jokowi,” Rini said during her visit to the island.
Under the existing regulation, Pertamina is tasked with distributing Premium all over the country, except regions in Java, Madura and Bali.
Previously, Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahah announced that the ministry would issue a regulation, while the President would revise Presidential Regulation No. 191/2014 on procurement, distribution and fuel retail prices to make it possible for Pertamina to also distribute Premium gasoline to regions in Java, Madura and Bali.
The policy was formulated following the finding by the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) that there was a shortage of Premium in many gas stations across the country, including in Java, Madura and Bali.
Premium 88 RON gasoline is sold at Rp 6,550 (46 US cents) per liter, well below the lowest price of non-subsidized fuel, Pertalite, which is sold at Rp 7,600 per liter. (bbn)
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