Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2014 PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has explained the\nlong queues at petrol stations in several parts of Indonesia, including\nBali, East Java and North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
One of the main causes is the growing shift in consumption from\nunsubsidised fuel to subsidised fuel, particularly Pertalite (RON\n90).<\/p>\n
Pertamina Patra Niaga vice-president of corporate communications\nKitty Andhora said the queues reflected a combination of increased\ndemand and changes in consumer behaviour. Fuel distribution had also\nbeen affected by operational difficulties involving delivery\nvessels.<\/p>\n
\u201cQueues at several petrol stations have been influenced by higher\ndemand in certain areas, a shift in consumption from unsubsidised to\nsubsidised fuel, and operational problems, including technical issues\nwith vessels that affected distribution and the receipt of supplies,\u201d\nKitty told CNBC Indonesia on Friday (16 October 2026.<\/p>\n
In East Java, the company recorded an increase in Pertalite\nconsumption across several cities and regencies. The areas seeing higher\ndemand include Surabaya, Malang, Kediri, Blitar, Tulungagung, Banyuwangi\nand Bondowoso.<\/p>\n
To ease the build-up of vehicles, Pertamina is stepping up deliveries\nfrom terminals and reserve depots. Tanker-truck trips are being\nincreased, with supplies prioritised for petrol stations whose stocks\nare critically low.<\/p>\n
\u201cPertamina Patra Niaga is currently optimising supplies from\nterminals and reserve depots, increasing tanker-truck trips and\nprioritising deliveries to petrol stations with critically low stocks.\nQueue management is also being carried out with petrol station operators\nand local authorities,\u201d Kitty said.<\/p>\n
In Bali, Pertamina is operating its Pertamina Delivery Service (PDS)\nat high-traffic petrol stations to help ease queues. It is also\ncoordinating traffic management around filling stations with the police\nand local governments.<\/p>\n
The company has urged the public to buy fuel in line with normal\nneeds and not to panic-buy or hoard it. Stock levels and distribution\nare being closely monitored to restore the smooth flow of supplies.<\/p>\n
Bahlil\u2019s explanation<\/strong><\/p>\n Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who also\nserves as Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition,\nsaid Pertalite, or RON 90, stocks currently represented 16 to 18 days of\nsupply. This is down from the usual level of around 18 to 20 days.<\/p>\n The reduction in stock cover has been driven by consumers switching\nfrom unsubsidised Pertamax to subsidised Pertalite.<\/p>\n Bahlil said the supply situation and decline in reserves did not\naffect other types of fuel.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the refinery, we have [different grades]. For us, the issue is\nRON 90\u2014not that there is a problem, but it is the only grade with stocks\nbelow 20 days. Diesel, RON 92, RON 95 and RON 98 are not an issue. The\nshift from 16 to 18 days is happening with RON 90. Why? Because people\nwho used RON 92 and 95 have shifted to RON 90, as the price difference\nis quite economical,\u201d Bahlil said at a press conference at his office in\nJakarta on Friday (16 October 2026).<\/p>\n The price gap between RON 90 and unsubsidised fuels such as RON 92\nand RON 95 has encouraged consumers to change their daily purchasing\npatterns. Although Pertalite stocks stand at 16 to 18 days, the reserves\nare considered safe and meet national availability standards.<\/p>\n \u201cBy national standards, it is clear. It may take us a week to reach\n20 days. That will be done in a week, but 16 to 18 days does not mean we\nare below the minimum standard. It is still fine,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n The Government aims to restore Pertalite stocks to the target level\nof 20 days within a week. National fuel reserves at refineries and\npetrol stations across the country are being maintained.<\/p>\n \u201cOur national fuel stocks are at 16 to 18 days. So, God willing,\nnational fuel stocks are safe,\u201d he said.<\/p>",
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