This is the price of RON 92 gasoline. Which one is the cheapest?

The ever-increasing fuel subsidy burden is prompting the Indonesian government to consider raising the prices of Pertalite and Solar. The government has been absorbing the losses from the sale of subsidized fuel to prevent price hikes.

This isn't limited to subsidized fuel; the government is also absorbing losses on Pertamax (Research Octane Number/RON 92) gasoline.

According to the Ministry of Finance, in August 2022, Pertamina gas stations sold Pertamax at Rp12,500 per liter, while the economic price, or the actual cost, was Rp17,300 per liter.

This means the government absorbed a loss of Rp4,800 per liter, even though Pertamax is not a subsidized fuel.

Pertamax is the cheapest RON 92 gasoline compared to its competitors at Shell, Vivo, and BP-AKR gas stations.

Comparison of RON 92 gasoline prices in August 2022:

* Revvo 92 (Vivo): Rp17,500 per liter
* Super (Shell): Rp17,300 per liter
* BP 92 (BP-AKR): Rp17,300 per liter
* Pertamax (Pertamina): Rp12,500 per liter

For context, the government allocated Rp502 trillion for energy subsidies and compensation in 2022.

The surge in global crude oil prices above US$100 per barrel, the weakening Indonesian Rupiah, and increased consumption of subsidized fuel have caused this subsidy and compensation budget to balloon to three times the initial allocation in the 2022 State Budget.