DEN Member Says Pertamax Price Hike Aimed at Reducing Fiscal Burden

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the National Energy Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DEN-RI) Satya Widya Yudha has said the increase in the price of non-subsidised fuel oil (BBM) such as Pertamax aims to reduce the fiscal burden. “The government tried to hold it back, yes, tried to hold it back some time ago, and now it is released because that is our fiscal resilience,” said Satya when met at IPB University Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday. The government, together with Pertamina, had held back the price increase of non-subsidised fuel since March 2026, precisely when the war between the United States (US)-Israel against Iran caused world oil prices to soar. However, starting 10 June 2026, the government and Pertamina no longer held back the price of non-subsidised fuel, causing a price surge of more than 30 percent for Pertamax (RON 92) from Rp12,300 per litre to Rp16,250 per litre. “Can you imagine the difference from just the current price? Now it is Rp16,250 minus yesterday’s Rp12,300 per litre. That is multiplied by the millions of litres the government has covered (the difference). The state bears that difference,” said Satya. The weight of the fiscal burden borne by the state then led the government to the decision to return the price of non-subsidised fuel to what it should be, namely in accordance with world oil price fluctuations. “Now non-subsidised fuel is returned to its nature. That is, they (non-subsidised fuel) can increase in price according to the fluctuation of world oil prices,” said Satya. Nonetheless, Satya stressed that the most important thing is that the price of subsidised fuels such as Pertalite and Biosolar is not increasing. “Increases are everywhere, but the government is still maintaining subsidised fuel prices. Therefore, we urge that this non-increase in the price of subsidised fuel be answered with efficiency from the user community,” said Satya. Pertamina Patra Niaga announced a price increase for Pertamax and Pertamax Green fuel products starting 10 June 2026. According to a company press release received in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6), starting 10 June 2026 the price of non-subsidised fuel Pertamax (RON 92) rose from Rp12,300 to Rp16,250 per litre and Pertamax Green 95 (RON 95) rose from Rp12,900 to Rp17,000 per litre. Pertamina also conveyed that the price of other Pertamina fuel products besides Pertamax and Pertamax Green did not increase. The price of non-subsidised fuel products Pertamax Turbo (RON 98) remains at Rp20,750 per litre, Dexlite (CN 51) remains at Rp23,000 per litre, and Pertamina Dex (CN 53) remains at Rp24,800 per litre. Subsidised fuel oil of the Pertalite type continues to be marketed at a price of Rp10,000 per litre and Biosolar is still priced at Rp6,800 per litre.