Fuel Prices Maintained, MPR Deputy Chairman Delivers This Message to the Government
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - MPR Deputy Chairman Eddy Soeparno expressed his appreciation for the government’s decision to maintain the prices of both subsidised and non-subsidised fuel (BBM). According to him, in conditions fraught with uncertainty due to the war in the Middle East, the stability of fuel prices is certainly welcomed with relief by the public.
“The psychological impact of the government’s decision to maintain overall fuel prices is very positive. First, this decision nullifies various rumours circulating on social media in recent days that have unsettled the public, leading to queues at several petrol stations to fill up fuel,” said Eddy.
“Second, President Prabowo has worked hard and succeeded in finding a way out so that fluctuations in crude oil prices do not weaken the public’s purchasing power, especially fuel consumers,” he continued, as quoted from a press release on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
However, looking ahead, Eddy entrusts a message for the government to always be alert and vigilant in maintaining fuel supplies, considering that all oil and gas products are currently like scarce commodities contested by many parties.
“Countries that import large amounts of fuel and depend on supplies from the Middle East, such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea, will certainly seek substitutes from supplies to other countries,” said Eddy.
“Moreover, India, Japan, and Korea heavily rely on imports for their energy needs, even over 70%. As a result, Indonesia will be ‘elbowing’ with other countries to secure their respective energy supplies,” he continued.
This Deputy General Chairman of the National Mandate Party explained that the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as an example where vaccines were the most needed item by all countries in the world, while production was limited.
As a result, many countries were willing to buy them at very high prices to save their citizens exposed to the coronavirus. Even then, there were times when vaccines were not traded, despite buyers being willing to pay upfront.
“The same story could repeat for fuel, because all countries in the world are striving hard to avoid an energy crisis that could cripple the economy and cause social unrest,” Eddy revealed.
“Therefore, I hope we have reliable oil and gas import supplies, considering that ‘reliability of supply’ is now more important than ‘availability of supply’,” continued this UI Political Science Doctor.
Furthermore, Eddy said that the current global energy crisis is also the right momentum for Indonesia to strengthen its energy resilience through energy transition, energy conservation, electrification, and de-dieselisation of power plants.
“In addition to reducing our dependence on imported energy, Indonesia will also optimise the abundant potential of clean and renewable energy we have domestically,” said Eddy, who is also a member of the DPR’s Commission XII.