According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, the value of fossil fuel subsidies globally reached US$287 billion in 2022. This figure includes subsidies for gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other petroleum products in 168 countries.
This figure only includes explicit subsidies for consumers, without considering subsidies for producers, or implicit subsidies such as reduced consumption taxes, exemptions from environmental taxes, and various other fiscal support for the use of fossil fuels.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia was the world's largest provider of fuel subsidies, amounting to US$65.13 billion.
Indonesia ranked third globally. According to the IMF, throughout 2022, the value of fuel subsidies in Indonesia reached US$25.74 billion, consisting of:
* Gasoline subsidies: US$6.69 billion
* Diesel subsidies: US$12.10 billion
* Kerosene subsidies: US$3.09 billion
* Other petroleum product subsidies: US$3.86 billion
The IMF is now urging countries to evaluate their fossil fuel subsidy policies to reduce air pollution and anticipate the climate crisis.
"Eliminating explicit subsidies for fossil fuels, and implementing corrective taxes such as carbon taxes, could reduce global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 43% by 2030," said the IMF research team in its report, *IMF Fossil Fuel Subsidies Data: 2023 Update*.
However, the elimination of subsidies will lead to increased fuel prices, which could trigger socio-economic-political unrest in many countries.
Therefore, the IMF recommends that the elimination of subsidies be accompanied by policies to protect low-income communities.
"Eliminating fuel subsidies can be a complex issue. Governments must carefully design, communicate, and implement fuel price reforms as part of a comprehensive policy package that prioritizes the benefits," said the IMF team.