Pertamina Urges Consumers Not to Switch to Subsidised Pertalite

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga is urging the public not to switch to using Pertalite amid the increase in Pertamax prices to Rp 16,250 per litre. The state-owned company will continue to campaign for wise energy use to anticipate the potential migration of consumers from non-subsidised to subsidised fuel. Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga Roberth Dumatubun said consumers should not only consider the price factor when choosing fuel. According to him, the public also needs to pay attention to the suitability of the octane rating or Research Octane Number (RON) with the specifications of the vehicle used. “Migration is not simply a reason of being cheaper, but more about the need and the right fuel quality for the vehicle, as well as not taking fuel allocations that are not properly intended for them,” Roberth told Tempo via written message on Thursday, 11 June 2026. Previously, Pertamina raised the price of Pertamax (RON 92) from Rp 12,300 to Rp 16,250 per litre. The increase sparked concerns about a consumer shift to Pertalite, whose price remains fixed at Rp 10,000 per litre. On the other hand, the Pertalite quota has actually decreased. The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) set the quota for the special assignment fuel type (JBKP) Pertalite in 2026 at 29,267,947 kilolitres (kl), down 6.28 percent from the 2025 quota of 31,230,017 kl. Meanwhile, throughout 2025, the realised distribution of Pertalite was recorded at 28.06 million kl, or 89.86 percent of the set quota of 31.2 million kl. Director of Public Policy at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Media Wahyu Askar said the increase in Pertamax prices from Rp 12,300 to Rp 16,250 per litre could have consequences, especially since the price of Pertalite remains at Rp 10,000 per litre. According to Media, this condition could encourage Pertamax consumers to switch to Pertalite. As a result, demand for subsidised fuel could potentially increase and burden the government’s subsidy budget. “There are two choices: consumers keep buying Pertamax at a more expensive price or switch to Pertalite. As a result, the Pertalite quota will increase and cause subsidies for fuel to swell as well,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. Media assessed that restricting Pertalite purchases through the MyPertamina QR code will only be effective if there are no leaks in its implementation. According to him, practices of selling Pertalite outside official petrol stations are still found. He also criticised the assumption that the Pertamax price increase only affects high-income groups. According to Media, many Pertamax users come from the middle class, such as online motorcycle taxi drivers, teachers, and workers who choose to use better quality fuel for their vehicles. Media estimates that the increase in non-subsidised fuel prices could further suppress the purchasing power of the middle class and vulnerable communities. In addition, this policy has the potential to drive up food prices and worsen the community’s economic conditions.