GOVT NOT YET TO LOWER FUEL PRICES: VP

Jakarta, Sept 27 (ANTARA) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said that the government has not yet thought of lowering fuel oil prices again although the world crude was still showing a downward trend.
"In order to cut fuel oil prices there are three factors that have to be taken into account, namely the world crude price, the rupiah exchange rate and the amount of subsidy," he said here on Friday.
He said that the lowering of fuel oil prices would depend on the three factors. So the domestic prices could not be lowered directly as soon as the world crude price showed a decline.
The vice president said that the average length of period and price of fuel on the world market should be calculated first. It should not be equalized to selling vegetables whose prices could be lowered in two days if there is a price fall.
Previously, oil observers said that now was the time for the government to once again cut domestic fuel oil prices. The government's step to lower fuel oil prices three times was considered not yet enough.
The vice president said the decision to cut oil prices was for a long-term in nature so that the government would always be careful in taking a decision.
"There is no guarantee that the world crude price would continue to go down. So, what will happen if all of a sudden it goes up, and who can guarantee that prices would remain stable," the vice president questioned.***2***