Pertalite's Actual Price Revealed: It's Not Rp10,000 per Litre
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The actual price of Pertalite fuel has once again become a topic of public discussion after a receipt from a Pertamina petrol station showing a price of Rp16,088 per litre before subsidies went viral. This discovery led many netizens to question the current fuel subsidy scheme.
The Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Roberth M V Dumatubun, stated that the price listed on the receipt represents the economic value of Pertalite before government subsidies are applied to consumers.
According to him, the energy subsidy is provided by the government to maintain public purchasing power and support national economic activity. Therefore, the retail price of Pertalite remains at Rp10,000 per litre.
“The subsidy aims to maintain national stability, both in terms of public purchasing power and ensuring that the economy continues to function,” Roberth said in a statement to CNBC Indonesia, quoted on Sunday (17/5/2026).
Amid this debate, questions have also arisen as to why subsidies are not provided for Pertamax, which has a higher octane rating. According to Roberth, Pertamax is a general non-subsidized fuel, so its selling price follows market mechanisms.
“Pertamax is a type of non-subsidized fuel because its price follows market prices,” he said.
He also reminded that the current price of non-subsidized fuels is still influenced by government policies, especially in maintaining price stability amid global energy fluctuations.
Previously, one of the widely discussed posts appeared on the Threads platform and showed a breakdown of Pertalite’s base price before receiving government subsidies.
The receipt shows that the base price of Pertalite reaches Rp16,088 per litre. However, consumers only pay Rp10,000 per litre because there is a government subsidy of Rp6,088 for each litre of fuel purchased.
This discovery immediately sparked public questions. The base price of Pertalite, which has an RON of 90, appears to be higher than Pertamax with an RON of 92, which is currently sold at around Rp12,300 per litre in the Jabodetabek area.
The narrative in the circulating video then developed into a debate about the logic of fuel prices. Many netizens questioned why the government provides subsidies for Pertalite instead of Pertamax, which is considered to have higher quality.
The viral purchase receipt shows a breakdown of Pertalite’s base price at Rp16,088 per litre, a government subsidy of Rp6,088 per litre, and a selling price to the public of Rp10,000 per litre.