BPH Migas Applauds Uncovering of Alleged Fuel Misuse in South Sulawesi
The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) has expressed its highest appreciation to the South Sulawesi Regional Police for their success in uncovering the alleged misuse of subsidised fuel in South Sulawesi.
Speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, the Head of BPH Migability, Wahyudi Anas, stated that the exposure of this case is a vital step in ensuring that the distribution of subsidised energy remains targeted towards those entitled to it. “We give our highest appreciation to the South Sulawesi Regional Police. This is something we must continue to enhance and promote,” he said during a press conference at the Pelindo Pier in Makassar.
According to Anas, the findings in South Sulawesi represent one of the largest discoveries compared to similar previous cases. He emphasised that monitoring the distribution of subsidised energy requires strong synergy between regulators, law enforcement, local governments, and all relevant stakeholders. BPH Migas is actively strengthening cooperation with law enforcement, particularly regional police, to conduct investigations and crack down on potential misuse to ensure that subsidised fuel reaches the right people with the correct volume.
Strengthening supervision is critical given the massive scale of energy subsidies in South Sulawesi. With current global oil prices, the economic value of the diesel subsidy allocation, which reaches approximately 0.79 million kilolitres per year, is estimated at Rp15 trillion. Meanwhile, the Pertalite allocation reaches 1.14 million kilolitres, valued at nearly Rp9 trillion. Anas urged the public to report any irregularities to the BPH Migas Helpdesk, noting that previous public reports had successfully led to enforcement actions in Jepara.
The Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, also expressed his gratitude to the South Sulawesi Regional Police, criminal investigation units at the regency and city levels, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for their support in this operation. “In a difficult fuel situation, there are those who exploit the system, and we have successfully uncovered this at the right time,” he remarked.
South Sulawesi Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Pol Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, reaffirmed his commitment to supporting government policies regarding the control of the oil and gas sector. He noted that the enforcement against the misuse of subsidised fuel and LPG is part of the effort to ensure community energy needs are met sustainably.
Data updated as of 21 May 2026 shows the seizure of one tanker, two self-propelled oil barges (SPOB), 18 fuel tankers, 17 passenger cars, 6 dump trucks, 332 diesel jerry cans, 12 tanks with 1,000-litre capacities, and 1,541 3kg LPG cylinders. The seized subsidised fuel included 229,123 litres of diesel and 3,031 litres of Pertalite.
While visiting the Integrated Terminal (IT) in Makassar, Wahyudi also emphasised the importance of maintaining fuel stock resilience. He noted that the IT Makassar serves as a buffer for fuel stocks in the Sulawesi region and urged terminal operators to continuously improve occupational safety and operational reliability to support the energy needs of the community.