Fuel Reserves Are Safe and Won't Run Dry After 20 Days
Indonesia’s fuel supply remains safe, according to Komaidi Notonegoro, Executive Director of the ReforMiner Institute. He said that with reserves of around 20 days, this does not mean that fuel will run out after 20 days, because the government, via Pertamina, will continue to stabilise the stock.
That 20 days of reserves refers to operating reserves, a kind of inventory. The reserves are stored in storage facilities.
Public should not worry. Because when sales occur, for example today 1,000 units are sold, Pertamina will supply 1,000 units, or more, because their business must run. He used an analogy of a shop: when goods are sold, they will replenish to fill the stock. This has been a routine practice.
The 20 days reserve is even higher than in several other countries, including Laos and Vietnam. Vietnam has 15 days of operating reserves; Laos only 10 days. This means it’s normal.
Therefore Komaidi hopes the public remains calm, including ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Pertamina has prepared distribution, including through the Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr Task Force. He believes stock in each region is safe.
At the event, DEN member M Kholid Syeirazi also agreed. “No panic. No panic,” he said.
Kholid said there are three types of energy reserves: strategic reserves, energy buffer reserves (cadangan penyangga energi), and operating reserves. The 20-23 day reserve referred to as operating reserves provided by business entities like Pertamina.
Operating reserves are provided by the business entity in a circular manner. So if used, stock is supplied again from import sources. “That is circular. If used, stock is supplied again from import sources,” explained Kholid.
Energy buffer reserves, he added, are mandatory and must be provided by the government according to the state’s financial capacity. The rules are set out in Presidential Regulation Number 96 of 2024 on Energy Buffer Reserves (CPE) that must be provided by the government.
Therefore, Kholid again stressed that the BBM situation is safe, including ahead of Eid. For example, Pertalite reserves are up to 28 days and Pertamax 29 days; Avtur is also safe.
“So I urge the public not to panic. The about 20 days stock is circulating stock. When goods go out, goods come in. This has been stated by professors since the 1970s,” he said.
Moreover, Pertamina is still producing oil via ongoing drilling, and continues exploring and increasing reserves. He said this effort continues today.
“Therefore there is no problem. God willing, we will be able to travel home with joy. Hopefully the conflict ends and the public need not panic, including hoarding. Because that would create a negative moral hazard for the economy,” he concluded. (Ant/E-2)