Bahlil Confirms National Fuel Reserves are Secure, Sufficient for 20 Days
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has ensured that the availability of national fuel reserves is in a secure condition. Currently, national fuel stocks stand at approximately 20 days, while the national minimum standard ranges between 21 and 28 days.
“Therefore, there is no issue with our national reserves,” Bahlil stated during the Innovation Technology for Social and Environmental Awards (InTechSEA) event in Jakarta on Monday (14/9).
Bahlil’s statement follows reports of long vehicle queues at several petrol stations, particularly in the Makassar region of South Sulawesi, over recent days. Bahlil noted that he had conducted checks to identify the cause of the congestion at petrol stations and concluded that the situation was not caused by national fuel reserve issues.
“I have checked what the problem is, because our national reserves are at 20 days. There shouldn’t be queues. It turns out, ladies and gentlemen, that there is a shifting pattern,” said Bahlil.
Bahlil explained that one factor triggering the queues is a change in public consumption patterns. Some consumers who previously used non-subsidised fuel have now switched to subsidised fuel following the price increase of non-subsidised products.
According to Bahlil, this transition is not inherently a problem. However, he urged those who are economically capable to refrain from using subsidised fuel, which is intended for vulnerable groups.
“Those who previously did not use subsidies are switching to subsidised fuel. That is fine, but I urge our brothers and sisters who are capable, who drive nice cars, to please be considerate,” BABS said.
In the last three days, the number of vehicles queuing for fuel at several petrol stations in Makassar increased by more than 50%, which temporarily impacted traffic flow on several roads. However, the situation in Makassar has begun to show signs of improvement. Monitoring on Monday morning showed that queues at the AP Pettarani Street petrol station in Makassar had returned to relatively normal levels.
Local authorities have also taken several steps to alleviate the queues, including implementing a permit system based on even-odd licence plate numbers. Additionally, large vehicles, including trucks and buses, are being directed to refuel at night to prevent heavy traffic congestion during the day.
To accelerate the normalisation of queues, Pertamina has also increased fuel supplies to several petrol stations and extended operational hours. With the increased supply and service hours, the previously congested queues are gradually returning to normal.
Meanwhile, the scarcity and long queues in South Sulawesi over the last five days have received a firm response. To prevent scarcity and maintain supply security, the company has increased fuel supplies by up to 16,000 kilolitres (KL).
The Head of the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas), Wahyudi Anas, noted that Pertalite stocks at Pertamina’s fuel terminal are reported to be sufficient for only 8 to 14 days amidst the ongoing queues.