Balikpapan to Implement Subsidised Fuel Distribution Rules from 1 September
The Balikpapan city government will implement time restrictions and designated distribution points for subsidised fuel, specifically Pertalite and Biosolar, at all public filling stations (SPBU) in Balikpapan starting 1 September 2026. The policy is outlined in a circular issued by the Mayor of Balikpapan, intended to ease long vehicle queues at several stations and to organise service hours so that subsidised fuel distribution is more evenly delivered to eligible members of the public.
Deputy Mayor Bagus Susetyo explained on Monday (24/8) that the circular follows a series of coordination meetings and public feedback regarding queues for subsidised fuel at several stations in Balikpapan. “This circular is the result of a coordination meeting to address queues for subsidised fuel in Balikpapan. The discussions involved the Balikpapan city government, BPH Migas, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, and several community groups and representatives,” he said.
Under the circular, at SPBU 61.761.03 on Jalan MT Haryono, two-wheeled vehicles will be served from 06.00 to 22.00 Wita, while four-wheeled vehicles will be served from 22.00 to 06.00 Wita. A similar arrangement applies at SPBU 61.761.02 in Sepinggan, with motorcycles served from 06.00 to 22.00 Wita and cars from 22.00 to 06.00 Wita. “Four-wheeled vehicles filling Pertalite are not permitted to queue before 22.00 Wita at these two stations,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, SPBU 64.761.17 in the Gunung Bakaran area will not serve two-wheeled vehicles and is designated for four-wheeled vehicles with service hours from 08.00 to 22.00 Wita. To reduce congestion among motorcycle queues, the city government is also preparing five additional SPBU locations for Pertalite distribution specifically for motorcycles. These are SPBU 64.761.24 in Batu Ampar, SPBU 64.761.18 in Batakan, SPBU 63.761.01 in Grand City, SPBU 64.761.09 in Gunung Bahagia, and SPBU 64.761.05 in Kebun Sayur.
“Operations at these five stations will commence after the subsidised fuel distribution quota is set by BPH Migas and calibration tests are completed. This is specifically for two-wheeled motor vehicles,” Bagus said. He expressed hope that the additional service points would reduce queue build-ups that have been a persistent problem.
The circular also regulates Biosolar distribution at SPBU 64.761.19 at Kilometre 13 and SPBU 64.761.10 at Kilometre 15. At the Kilometre 13 station, service operates 24 hours and is intended for vehicles with six or more wheels, with a capacity above 10 tonnes and specifically for goods transport vehicles. Refuelling is limited to a 48-hour period. Additionally, an odd-even licence plate rule applies based on the date: vehicles with an odd final digit refuel on odd dates, while even final digits refuel on even dates. Similar provisions apply at the Kilometre 15 station, but specifically for six-wheeled vehicles with a capacity below 10 tonnes.
Sales Area Manager Retail for East and North Kalimantan of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Narotama Aulia Fajri, acknowledged that adding SPBU for Pertalite distribution is part of a strategy to break up queue concentrations. “The pattern will be applied in several areas that have had quite long motorcycle queues,” he said. He cited East Balikpapan as an example, where motorcycle queues have been concentrated at the Sepinggan SPBU and surrounding areas. The new service point in Batakan is expected to reduce that queue burden. Similar measures are being taken in Karang Anyar and Kebun Sayur, while for North and South Balikpapan, new service points in Grand City and Gunung Bahagia are also intended to divide queue concentrations.
Aulia stressed that Pertamina is focused on ensuring fuel distribution takes place within SPBU areas. Traffic congestion on roads caused by queuing vehicles is outside Pertamina’s authority. “Regarding whether there is congestion or not, Pertamina cannot answer. What we do is distribute within the SPBU,” he concluded.