Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Saleh assured Sunday that the government will not raise electricity tariffs (TDL) soon.

"It is not true the rates will be raised in the near future, the more so because many of our people still have limited purchasing power," he said.

He said the government was currently focusing on improving the quality of power supplies to the public.

"The government is in the process of formulating (policies) to sharpen an appropriate subsidy program which is people-oriented," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said earlier the government would not raise electricity tariffs, citing the people`s low purchasing power and poor power supplies as reasons.(*)