Bahlil urges public to use energy wisely and not to hoard fuel

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has urged the public to use energy wisely and not to hoard fuel oil (BBM). “I want to convey that please use energy wisely. Please, these petrol stations are not for industry. Please use them prudently,” Bahlil stated during a surprise inspection in Central Java, monitored online from the Ministry of ESDM in Jakarta on Thursday. He highlighted the phenomenon of trucks queuing at petrol stations to buy BBM and then reselling it. Such incidents, Bahlil said, would continue to be monitored in the field as part of efforts to maintain fuel stock stability at various petrol stations amid the global energy crisis caused by the war between the United States (US)-Israel and Iran. Bahlil conveyed that the government cannot maintain oil stock stability without public support. The government can bring in oil supplies as it has done over the past few months during the crisis. However, if the public does not use energy wisely, stability will be difficult to achieve. “I ask my brothers and sisters, those who are hoarding, please look at Mother Earth; she now needs wise children. Those methods (hoarding), I ask that you stop them, don’t continue,” Bahlil said. The energy crisis was triggered by the war between the United States (US)-Israel and Iran. Tensions in the Persian Gulf region have increased since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on 28 February, which so far has reportedly killed around 1,340 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then retaliated against that military aggression by launching drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Tehran also took control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil supplies, with most energy supplies for Asian countries passing through that area.