Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will form a dedicated team to verify fuel quality following alleged corruption in Pertamina’s oil imports, which reportedly cost the state US$12 billion.

“We will organize a team to ensure the public purchases fuel that meets the correct specifications and price,” said Energy Minister Balil Lahadalia on Wednesday (26/2/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

Highlighting fuel import practices, the minister emphasized stricter supervision and monitoring. Fuel import permits will now be issued for six months, with evaluations every three months, replacing the previous one-year cycle.

The energy ministry also plans to boost domestic crude oil processing and enforce blending standards to meet required fuel specifications.

The Attorney General’s Office  has announced the arrests of several state-owned energy company PT Pertamina executives, including PT Pertamina Patra Niaga’s president director, Riva Siahaan, for manipulating policies to lower domestic refinery production, enabling large-scale imports.

Pertamina denies claims that its Pertamax,  a type of gasoline with octane rating RON 92,), was blended with Pertalite, a lower grade fuel with octane rating RON 90, asserting that all products meet official specifications.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)