EXCLUSIVE - Pertamina seeks to impose high prices for fuel on export companies

State oil and gas company Pertamina is planning to impose market prices for fuel on the country's export-oriented companies, including timber and fishing companies.

Pertamina's president Baihaki Hakim said on Tuesday Pertamina would soon propose the government to issue a decree allowing the company to realize the plan.

"I think it reasonable that some companies pay fuel at the international price. The companies are those which are export oriented such as timber and fishing companies," Baihaki said on the sidelines of the ceremony where the State Financial Comptroller (BPKP) delivered the audit results of the company's balance sheet.

Pertamina sells fuels to the public at the prices heavily subsidized by the government.

Several months ago, the state company sought to sell its fuel to several export-oriented companies at the international prices but it was soon ordered by then Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to cancel the policy following protests by the companies, which claimed that they could not afford the fuel amid the economic crisis.

Baihaki said Pertamina in fact sought to sell fuel at international prices to export-oriented companies at the request of the Ministry of Finance.

"To avoid further controversies, we will ask (the government to issue) a ministerial decree or presidential decree so that Pertamina has a legal basis (to sell the fuel at international prices to the export-oriented companies) and it will not be continually condemned," Baihaki said. (godang)