October 20, 2025 | 03:11 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia addressed the recent shortage of fuel oil (BBM) at private gas stations, confirming that his ministry had received reports of supply disruptions that led to requests for additional import quotas.
Bahlil emphasized that fuel oil is a state-controlled commodity as stipulated in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.
“This is a country governed by law; there are regulations. This is not a lawless country,” he said during the Gathering of Young Entrepreneurs–Indonesian Investment Management Agency Business Forum 2025 in Jakarta on Monday, October 20, 2025.
He stressed that fuel imports cannot be conducted arbitrarily and urged business players to comply with existing rules.
“If anyone feels they can do business here without following regulations, please find another country,” he warned.
Bahlil previously called on private gas station operators to cooperate with state-owned energy company PT Pertamina to maintain fuel supplies, following reports of shortages that had persisted for nearly a month.
The minister, who also serves as Chairman of the Golkar Party, noted that private gas stations had already received a 110 percent import quota this year compared to 2024, dismissing claims that the government had withheld supplies.
“If there are still shortages, we encourage cooperation with Pertamina because this concerns the livelihoods of many people,” Bahlil said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on September 15, 2025.
He added that a special team has been formed to address the issue, although he did not confirm whether additional fuel allocations would be made before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is preparing a new mechanism that would allow private gas station operators to purchase fuel directly from Pertamina.
The ministry’s Director General of Oil and Gas, Laode Sulaeman, said the plan is intended to resolve the fuel scarcity affecting several private stations.
Under the proposed scheme, Pertamina would directly supply fuel to private stations, ensuring more stable distribution.
However, Laode said the mechanism is still being evaluated, particularly due to differences in the additive specifications used by various operators.
“We will request data from all business entities regarding their needs and technical inputs, and we’ll process it within a week,” Laode said after meeting with representatives of private gas stations at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Eka Yudha contributed to the writing of this article.
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