Single Price for Fuel Across Indonesia in January 2017: Deputy Minister Tahar

Bandung (Antara Bali) - The newly-launched single fuel oil price policy, aimed at harmonizing fuel prices in and outside Java, will begin to take effect in January 2017, Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar said.

"The policy will come into force in January (2017). It is being processed at the Law and Human Rights Ministry for promulgation," he stated after delivering a general lecture at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) campus on Saturday (Nov. 11)

The policy reflects the governments efforts to make the fuel price structure more just, he noted, adding that once the new policy comes into effect, Indonesians everywhere will be entitled to subsidized fuel oil at the same price.

"Looking ahead, the entire Indonesian nation will have equal access to energy sources, including fuel oils which will be sold at the same price everywhere," he stressed.

During his visit to Yahukimo in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua recently, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had launched the single fuel oil price program in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The president reminded that he always kept hearing about the high fuel oil prices in Papua.

The single fuel oil price policy launched in the two provinces is part of the governments effort to usher in social justice for the entire Indonesian nation.

While launching the policy, the president pointed out the situation that had gone unheeded in Papua for too long, while Indonesians in the western and central parts of the country have been enjoying equal fuel oil prices for decades.

"The current fuel price is Rp6,450 per liter, while for decades, it remained Rp50,000, Rp60,000 and even Rp100,000 per liter," he recalled. (WDY)