Controversy Over Pertalite's True Price Being Higher Than Pertamax

JAKARTA - A video circulating on social media shows a receipt for purchasing Pertamina’s Pertalite fuel. The consumer questions the true price of Pertalite.

In the video reposted by the Instagram account @cobisnis, the receipt is from the Jakarta-Merak Toll Road fuel station. The receipt lists the unsubsidised price of Pertalite at Rp 16,088.

That price is then subsidised by the government by Rp 6,088. Thus, the public only needs to pay Rp 10,000 per litre.

The video recorder questions why the unsubsidised price of Pertalite is higher than Pertamax. Currently, Pertamax, referred to as a non-subsidised fuel, is priced at Rp 12,300 per litre.

Pertamina Patra Niaga’s Corporate Secretary, Roberth MV Dumatubun, stated that the current price of Pertamax at Rp 12,300 per litre is not the real economic price or market reference.

Roberth added that the term subsidy can be used easily. Because Pertamax is a non-subsidised fuel.

“Precisely, it is the difference between the economic price or market price versus the selling price at the fuel station that is temporarily borne by the government,” said Roberth.

“This is to maintain purchasing power and keep the wheels of the economy turning for the public,” he said.

However, Roberth did not answer when asked what the true price of Pertamax is. He only mentioned that other types of Pertamina fuel have price differences that are not much different.

“What is certain (the price of Pertamax) is above that. The logic is like this, Pertamax, Pertamax Green, Pertamax Turbo, they are RON 92, 95, 98, yeah, the price differences are slim,” he said.