Pertamina gears up for high octane fuel

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s state-owned oil company PT Pertamina will introduce a new higher-octane gasoline next month as it prepares to phase out supplies of once heavily-subsidized premium gas.

The new product, Pertalite, will have a Research Octane Number of around 90. That’s higher than the premium gasoline RON of 88, but lower than Pertamax, which has a RON rating of 92, said Pertamina spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro.

Because of the higher octane content, the new fuel will be more expensive than premium gasoline, which currently sells for between 7,300-7,400 rupiah a liter. Ms. Pusponegoro declined to disclose the Pertalite price. – The Wall Street Journal