Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif asserted that the ministry is currently preparing several choices , so that subsidized fuel, which is designated for people from the middle- to lower-income group, can be given right on target.
"Currently, many options are being studied thoroughly. Later, we will choose the best one because the compensation for this subsidy is very heavy, while the oil price is still quite high," he said in a statement here on Saturday.
Tasrif put the spotlight on the continued efforts made by the government to ensure the availability of fuel for the community amid the soaring price of crude oil.
Subsidized fuel is the one that receives the government's subsidy by utilizing the state budget (APBN). The amount is limited in accordance with the quota given, the price is set by the government, and it is targeted at specific consumers. Currently, Biosolar and Pertalite are the types of subsidized fuel provided by the government.
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Tasrif appealed to the community that is not the targeted group to abstain from buying the subsidized fuel that is not designated for them.
"The government continues to make efforts, so people do not run out of fuel. Subsidized fuel like Pertalite is essentially (intended) to help people whose purchasing power is not strong," he stated.
Tasrif believes that the community should be disciplined in using the right fuel in accordance with their rights.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the 2022 Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on Tuesday, said that Indonesia had recorded a state budget surplus of Rp106 trillion in 2022.
As a result, this year, the government was able to provide a subsidy of Rp502 trillion for fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity to keep the prices from skyrocketing.
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