GOVT KEEPS SUBSIDIZED DIESEL OIL PRICE UNCHANGED

Jakarta, Nov 30 (ANTARA) - The government has decided that the prices of subsidized diesel oil and kerosene remain unchanged at Rp5,500 and Rp2,500 a liter each effective December 1.

Head of the Legal Affairs and Public Relations Bureau at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Sutisna Prawira said in a press statement on Sunday the price of subsidized gasoline was lowered to Rp5,500 from Rp6,000 a liter as from December 1.

The decision on the new prices of subsidized fuel oils is contained in Regulation of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister No.38/2008 dated November 28, 2008.

The change in the price of subsidized gasoline is attributable to a slump in global crude prices to below US$60 a barrel from US$147 a barrel in mid-July.

Under the regulation, the energy and mineral resources minister will evaluate the selling prices of subsidized fuel oils every month according to developments in the global crude prices.

Earlier, on Nov 6 this year, the government announced it would lower the price of subsidized gasoline to Rp5,500 from Rp6,000 a liter as of December 1 while at the same time keeping the prices of subsidized diesel oil and kerosene unchanged.

Both observers and lawmakers urged the government to lower the price of subsidized diesel oil by Rp500 a liter to boost the people's economy.