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Fuel prices most likely to be hiked by almost 30%

01 May 2008, JAKARTA - The government in Indonesia is planning to hike prices of subsidized fuels by an average of some 28.7 percent. The price hike should become effective on June 1 and is aimed to prevent deficit in the state budget to grow to as much as 2.5% from 2.1% after the last revision last month. The last time that prices of subsidized fuels were hiked in Indonesia was in October 2005, when prices were almost doubled.

Bisnis Indonesia said that economic ministers will seek President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's approval for the move and discuss it with parliament. The most popular fuel for motorists, premium gasoline, is to be hiked with one third, from 4.500 Rupiah (0.31 euro) per liter to 6.000 Rupiah (0.42 euro). The price of diesel fuel for transportation is to be raised by by 27.9 percent from 4.500 to 5.500 Rupiah (0.38 euro) and the price of kerosene for household use by 25 percent to 2,500 rupiah (0.17 euro).