Economist says state-owned energy company will maintain sustainable fuel reserves

Jakarta — Senior economist Tauhid Ahmad of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) said Pertamina, the state-owned energy company (BUMN), would undertake a range of measures to ensure the continuity of fuel stockpiles. He urged the public not to worry about Indonesia’s fuel reserves, currently around 20 days, noting that the stock would run out only if no measures were taken during that period.

‘The but it should be remembered that, as is routinely done, Pertamina is currently taking steps to stabilise supply in order to maintain the level of reserves,’ he said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

The level of BBM stock is in line with the applicable rules; in the December 2025 report, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources noted that most BBM types in Indonesia were above the minimum reserve standard set, around 19–31 days for various BBM products.

Tauhid explained that stockpiling is about how far the government and Pertamina have funds to provide stocks, not only the materials but also warehouses, distribution channels, loading and shipping, and so on.

Therefore he viewed positively Pertamina’s supply planning, from refinery production to energy imports, because this is important to keep reserves maintained.

Tauhid cited the steps by Pertamina and the government to promptly shift crude oil imports away from the Gulf region. In a context of rising tensions in the Gulf, such measures are positive, including plans to import from Brazil or the United States.