Fuel Prices Unchanged, Queues for Pertamax Purchases Still Line Up at Abdul Muis Petrol Station

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Long queues occurred at petrol stations even though the government has announced that the prices of subsidised and non-subsidised fuel oil (BBM) will not increase from 1 April 2026 or tomorrow. One of them was at the Pertamina Abdul Muis petrol station, Gambir, Central Jakarta. Kompas.com observations from 18.40 WIB to 20.00 WIB on Tuesday (31/3/2026) showed that queues of motorbikes intending to refuel BBM appeared to snake along nearly six metres at the station. Motorcyclists were queuing at the Pertamax BBM section. In addition, four-wheeled private vehicles were also refuelling with Pertalite. However, unlike the motorbike queues, private cars came and went refuelling, so no queues formed. One resident queuing for Pertamax BBM, Arif (27), said that he usually fills up petrol in the morning before work. However, because news had circulated on social media about a fuel price increase, he took the time to fill up petrol before heading home to Depok, West Java. Arif also admitted that he already knew the government had stated that the fuel price increase from 1 April was cancelled. However, he was worried about the BBM stock at the petrol station. “I’m afraid that because it was just announced that it won’t increase, the stock will be less because previously many people bought it,” said Arif. “This morning when leaving, I saw many people going to the petrol station, although it hadn’t queued yet. So, just in case,” he continued. On Tuesday night, Arif filled his motorbike tank almost full with around 4 litres of petrol. According to him, that stock is enough for the next two to three days. Arif also felt relieved because the fuel price did not end up increasing tomorrow. Thus, the fuel queue did not last long. “Around five minutes (queuing). The queue was busy but there were also many staff helping,” he said. Another resident, Lutfi (40), recounted that he had previously queued to buy Pertamax at the Abdul Muis petrol station. Lutfi had previously learned from social media that BBM prices would increase from 1 April. So, while queuing on Tuesday night, he asked his colleague who works at Pertamina for confirmation on the fuel price increase.