Jakarta – Starting 1 January 2023, the government will officially abolish the circulation of RON 88 fuel or known as Premium, according to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Monday (19/9).
RON 90 fuel or Pertalite will be the minimum standard to be sold by Pertamina, which is also assigned fuel to areas other than Java and Bali. RON or Research Octane Number is a standard measure of octane number or a measure of fuel stability. The higher the RON number, the engine performance will be better and the pollution produced will be lower.
“After (removal of) Premium, RON 90 (Pertalite) will also be removed from circulation,” said ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif.
The abolition of low-octane fuels towards more environmentally friendly fuels is based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 20 of 2017 concerning Quality Standards for Exhaust Gas Emissions for New Type Motor Vehicles Category M, N, and O. Where this regulation regulates the application of Euro 4 emission standard fuel.
The government also hinted at removing Pertamax (RON 92). According to Arifin, Indonesia is one of the most lagging countries in terms of the use of more environmentally friendly high-octane fuel.
“That should be the case (to increase to RON 95), we are the most behind, right?” said Tasrif, adding that the road map for the elimination of Pertalite already exists. However, he said that it cannot be implemented right away so as not to cause public panic.
“People want clean air, healthy air every day, and also remember to use environmentally friendly fuel, it will also preserve the engine, it doesn’t have a lot of carbon (content),” Tasrif said.
The plan to eliminate low octane fuel will be carried out in stages. The first stage, starting from RON 88 or Premium gasoline which will be officially abolished on 1 January 2023. After that, RON 90 fuel or Pertalite will be phased out. In the future gasoline fuel sold in Indonesia will have a high octane value, namely RON 95-98 or the equivalent of Pertamax Turbo sold by Pertamina. (Hartatik)
