Bahlil: BBM Stock Capacity to Rise from 25 Days to 90 Days

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government plans to increase the capacity of the national fuel storage, BBM, from around 25-26 days to 90 days, or three months, to bolster national energy resilience amid global geopolitical dynamics affecting energy supply stability. “In fact, our energy resilience, our storage, is maxed at 25-26 days, not more than that,” Bahlil said at a press conference on the development of the Middle East situation and its implications for the ESDM sector in Jakarta on Tuesday. He compared Indonesia with Japan, noting that Japan’s energy reserves can last much longer—about 254 days for BBM—while Indonesia remains under 30 days. He said the limitation is not just supply but also the lack of storage facilities. “Now, if we import that much (as Japan does), where would we put the BBM? That is our problem,” he said. To address this, the government plans to build new energy storage facilities capable of holding BBM for up to 90 days, in line with international standards. A feasibility study is currently underway regarding the project. Bahlil targets the storage project to commence construction in 2026, with a planned location in the Sumatra region. Nevertheless, the government assures that current national energy stocks remain above the minimum national resilience threshold. He explained that crude, BBM, and LPG stocks are on average above the minimum standard set at 23 days. “So, in relation to preparations for Eid al-Fitr, during Ramadan, alhamdulillah I can say that BBM, crude, LPG stocks are all above the national minimum standard,” he added. The issue of Indonesia’s energy security has drawn public attention amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital corridor for world energy trade, through which around 20% of global oil consumption passes. The government signals readiness to maintain supply stability during the holiday season.