Minister says gasoline type RON 88 still available on the market

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said denies rumors that gasoline type registered octane number (RON) 88 would not be available in Indonesian market. Earlier, a reform team for oil and gas sector recommended the government to stop importing RON 88 and switch to RON 92 instead. 

"We still import the RON 88," Said stated on Tuesday, adding that government would provide five months to state owned oil company, PT Pertamina, to prepare its refinery to produce the high octane gasoline or pertamax. 

The reform team for oil and gas sector saud that Indonesia could buy RON 92 with competitive price from any other country while Singapore was the sole country selling RON 88. 

Yet, Pertamina argued that switching to import the pricey RON 92 could only inflict losses to the company. Senior Vice President Fuel Marketing and Distribution Pertamina, Suhartoko, said currently Indonesian refinery could not produce RON 92.

Indonesia consumes 30 million kiloliter of gasoline in 2014. Pertamina only produces 10 million kiloliter, while the rest is supplied by imported gasoline. By switching RON 88 to RON 92, Pertamina will produce less gasoline.