Pertamina ready to support Pertalite restrictions for decile 9 and 10 citizens

Pertamina is prepared to act once the policy is officially issued by the government. We will certainly coordinate with the government, and the implementation will involve coordination with relevant agencies.

Cilacap, Central Java (ANTARA) - Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Roberth MV Dumatubun, stated that the company is ready to support the restriction of subsidised fuel, such as Pertalite and Biosolar, for citizens within the decile 9 and 10 groups.

“Pertamina is certainly ready if that policy becomes official from the government; we will definitely coordinate with the government, and the implementation will involve coordination with relevant institutions,” Roberth said during a national media briefing in Cilacap, Central Java, on Thursday.

Roberth noted that, at present, Pertamina is still awaiting official government policy regarding the restriction of Pertalite distribution, which is a subsidised fuel.

He emphasised Pertamina’s position as a business entity that will follow government directives.

Pertamina understands that restricting Pertalite distribution based on deciles is a government measure to ensure that Pertalite is only available to those entitled to subsidies, as a higher decile indicates a more affluent category of society.

“As the Minister stated previously, the deciles above that are indicators of the affluent category of society. From Pertamina’s perspective, we understand that subsidised fuel is intended for the underprivileged,” said Roberth.

Nevertheless, regardless of the mechanism chosen by the government to ensure targeted distribution of subsidised fuel, Roberth stated that Pertamina is ready to support it.

“The core objective is to ensure that the distribution of fuel is targeted correctly. The regulators and policy makers are the government,” he added.

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that the restriction of Pertalite distribution for decile 9-10 citizens is currently awaiting data validation.

Bahlil noted that the accuracy of the decile data is currently being reviewed by the government.

He expressed hope that through accurate decile data, the government’s goal of ensuring targeted Pertalite distribution can be achieved as planned.