Pertamina likely to raise only fuel oil, diesel oil prices for June

State oil and gas firm Pertamina will likely raise fuel oil and diesel fuel oil prices for June while keeping the price of other kinds of fuel at the current level, company downstream director Muchsin Bahar said on Thursday.

The price of fuel oil will probably be increased by some Rp30 per liter, from the current Rp 1,120 per liter, Muchsin said. (US$1=Rp8,800)

The new price of fuel oil will be effective from June 1, Muchsin said in a hearing with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in charge of energy and mineral resources.

Muchsin however did not reveal June?s price of diesel fuel. It is Rp1,400 per liter for May.

In May, the price of premium gasoline stood at Rp 1,750 per liter, automotive diesel oil at Rp 1,400, industrial diesel oil at Rp1,390, kerosene for industry at Rp 1,410 and kerosene for low income households at Rp600, which is the same level as for April.

Meanwhile, Pertamina president director Baihaki Hakim turned down speculations that Pertamina would in June cut the price of premium gasoline.

?Over the past month there has been nothing significant, including average price of crude oil, which could make us cut fuel prices,? Baihaki said in the same hearing with the House commission.

Muchsin said with crude oil price standing at an average of between $24 and $25 per barrel, Pertamina will still find it difficult to reduce the price of premium gasoline. (Godang)