Bahlil: President Prabowo's Directive, Subsidised Fuel Prices Will Not Rise Until End of 2026
JAKARTA - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, has revealed that President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has issued a directive that subsidised fuel oil (BBM) prices will not increase until the end of 2026.
“We have agreed, based on the direction from the President, that subsidised BBM prices will not be raised until the end of the year,” Bahlil stated at the Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4/2026).
The reason, he said, is that increases in subsidised BBM depend on the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP), which currently stands at just 77 US dollars per barrel.
“Insya Allah, forever if possible. We hope so, as this depends on the ICP price. But even if it reaches 100 US dollars, it would still be safe for the state budget. The average ICP from January until now is no more than 77 US dollars,” he explained.
“So, we are only splitting 7 US dollars so far, so don’t let anyone think where our money comes from? We have only increased by 7 US dollars up to now, as I am saying,” Bahlil added.
In a briefing to members of the Red and White Cabinet, Prabowo emphasised that the wealthy should use BBM that follows market prices.
“For the strong people, the rich people, yes, if they want to use expensive petrol, they must pay the market price. You’ve already got rich, asking for subsidies again? No way, we are protecting the poor people,” Prabowo said in his briefing, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube broadcast on Wednesday (8/4/2026).
Therefore, the government will continue to maintain subsidised BBM for the majority of Indonesian society.
“For subsidised BBM, we will maintain it for the small people and the poor. We will maintain it for 80 percent of our people,” Prabowo asserted.
Amid geopolitical conditions that have disrupted energy supplies, Prabowo stated that Indonesia has a sufficiently strong economy.
“Some steps have already been announced to control fuel consumption for this short term. The short term that I consider critical is the next one year,” Prabowo said.
“After 12 months, we will be very strong. We will explain the steps later, but the point is that now we are ready and strong to face this one year,” he added emphatically.