Bahlil on Subsidised Fuel Prices: Wait for the Key Date
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the decision regarding subsidised fuel oil (BBM) prices lies directly in the hands of President Prabowo Subianto. That decision, Bahlil said, will be made considering social conditions and public purchasing power.
“I say that the subsidy waits for the key date. Insyaallah, I assure you that the President always considers and prioritises the conditions of the people in making policies,” Bahlil said after attending the Indonesia-Japan Business Forum in Tokyo on Monday, 30 March 2026, as quoted from Antara.
On that occasion, he also explained the mechanism for determining non-subsidised fuel oil prices. For non-subsidised BBM, it is fundamentally regulated by government regulations and follows global energy market movements. At that time, Bahlil was responding to reports of a 10 per cent increase in non-subsidised BBM prices effective from 1 April 2026.
Bahlil revealed that in the 2022 Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation, there are two BBM pricing formulas, namely for the industrial sector and non-industrial sector. “One industrial BBM price and one non-industrial. If it’s industrial, even without announcement, it continues based on market prices,” he said.
BBM in the industrial category generally consists of high-octane fuels such as RON 95 and RON 98, used by affluent groups and business sectors. Therefore, price changes do not burden the state as they receive no subsidies.
“RON 95, 98 petrol, that’s for capable people, right? For example, sorry, like Mr Rosan, Mr Cabinet Secretary, would they use subsidised fuel? And as long as they want it, as long as there’s money to pay, go ahead. The state’s duty is to provide for those who pay; there’s no state obligation at all,” Bahlil said. Nevertheless, the government emphasises that the primary focus of energy policy remains protecting the public through subsidised BBM.
Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, previously confirmed that there has been no official announcement regarding changes to Pertamax-type BBM prices, so projections of price increases circulating on social media cannot be verified. “As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding prices as of 1 April 2026,” Baron said on Monday, 30 March 2026.
Further, Baron urged the public to seek valid BBM price information from Pertamina’s official channels. On that occasion, he also expressed support for the government’s call to use energy wisely.