Pertamina Admits Economic Price of Pertamax Could Exceed Rp 17,000 per Litre

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has acknowledged that the difference between the retail selling price and the economic price of non-subsidised fuel oil (BBM) type Pertamax is increasingly widening. Amid the weakening rupiah and global geopolitical tensions, the economic price of Pertamax is estimated to potentially exceed Rp 17,000 per litre. Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Roberth MV Dumatubun, stated that this estimate is highly likely based on current market prices. As an illustration, he referred to the price difference between Pertamax and the product above it, namely Pertamax Turbo. “It could even be more (than Rp 17,000), referring to market prices and drawing an analogy from when Pertamax was Rp 12,300, Pertamax Turbo was Rp 13,100, but now Turbo is Rp 19,900 in Jakarta,” said Roberth when contacted on Sunday (10/5/2026). Currently, Pertalite is sold at Rp 10,000 per litre, while its economic price reaches Rp 16,088 per litre. According to him, this condition is influenced by the rupiah’s movement touching Rp 17,300 per US dollar as well as global geopolitical developments. “For Pertalite, it will follow price developments, because with the geopolitical situation, this subsidy figure continues to move following the geopolitical climate. Meanwhile, for Pertamax, it is temporarily borne by Pertamina and reimbursed by the government through the Minister of Finance,” he explained. Roberth emphasised that Pertamina continues to follow government directives regarding fuel pricing policies. “Until when (the prices of Pertalite and Pertamax are held) is that currently Pertamina as a State-Owned Enterprise and as an Operator will follow and comply with Government directives, of course. That policy follows the Government’s direction to Pertamina,” he concluded. Based on calculations as of April 2026, the upper limit price for Pertalite is estimated to reach Rp 16,968 per litre. Meanwhile, the economic price of Pertamax is estimated to be at the level of Rp 17,080 per litre. “This calculation is based on the formula used by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regulation currently. Where fuel prices are determined by MOPS prices, exchange rates, and the alpha weights in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regulation,” he said on Friday (8/5/2026).