Indonesia to restrict Pertalite fuel purchases for high-income groups

The Indonesian government is developing a policy to restrict the purchase of Pertalite, a subsidized fuel, to ensure energy subsidies are more accurately targeted. According to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the initiative aims to prevent distribution leakages without increasing the consumer selling price. The restrictions are expected to be implemented gradually to monitor macroeconomic impacts.

The policy will specifically target high-income groups, identified as deciles 9 and 10 based on socio-economic classifications from the Ministry of Social Affairs. These groups will be encouraged to transition to non-subsidized fuels.

Legislative members, including PKS politician Mulyanto, have expressed support for the goal of targeted subsidies due to fiscal pressures and global energy uncertainty. However, officials emphasize that the implementation must be grounded in legal certainty and clear regulations rather than relying solely on administrative tools like the MyPertamina QR code system or the interpretation of gas station staff. There are calls to ensure that the rights of eligible citizens are not compromised by technical or operational inconsistencies at the field level.