Pertamina lowers price of Pertamax

Indonesia’s state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina lowered the price of its non-subsidized fuel, Pertamax, in Greater Jakarta on February 3, in response to a spike in the consumption of subsidized fuel. A Pertamina press release said that the price of Pertamax was lowered to Rp 7,950 (88 US cents) per liter, from Rp 8,050 (89 US cents). The prices of other non-subsidized fuels remained the same. Company spokesman Mochamad Harun said Pertamina made the cut to prevent private car owners from shifting to subsidized premium gasoline due to the large price difference between premium subsidized fuel and Pertamax. (February 5, 2011)