Fuel Scarcity in North Sumatra Disrupts Freight and Bus Services
The impact of the fuel shortage in North Sumatra has disrupted freight expedition services and buses travelling from Medan to destination cities. Expedition operators are complaining about an average increase in operational costs of 25 per cent, including additional meal allowances for drivers and assistants who are stuck queuing for fuel for hours.
Rajamin Sirait, owner of the Ekspedisi dan Bus Persatuan Motor Horas (PMH) in Medan, said the fuel shortage has disrupted North Sumatra’s economy because the flow of goods to and from the province has been delayed. He cited the example of a PMH truck departing from Medan between 7pm and 8pm each evening, which should arrive in Pekanbaru, Riau, at around 10am the following day, and vice versa. “However, because of the diesel shortage, it is forced to queue at a public fuel filling station for up to four hours,” Rajamin told Tempo on Thursday, 16 July 2026.
The purchase limit of 200 litres of diesel per fill means that PMH trucks and buses on the Medan–Pekanbaru route must refuel again at Rantau Prapat in Labuhan Batu Regency.
“In fact, the diesel requirement for Medan–Pekanbaru is 450 litres one way. Because of the 200-litre purchase limit with the barcode system, trucks and buses are forced to refuel once or twice more along the way. The problem is that many petrol stations along the Trans-Sumatra road are currently closed because their fuel supply is empty,” he said.
Rajamin said Pertamina must honestly admit that fuel supply to North Sumatra is limited, which is why many petrol stations are operating on rotation. The quota system for petrol stations means that a number of stations open and close from time to time. “This causes customers to flock to a single petrol station, resulting in queues,” he said.
He also suggested that the barcode purchase system be abolished, as has been done in Aceh Province. The barcode purchase system, Rajamin said, is not appropriate for buses and expedition trucks.
Tempo’s observations show long queues of buses, trucks and motorcycles still occurring at petrol station SPBU 14.202.185 Amplas. One truck driver, who gave his name as Tony Siregar, had parked his truck there since 6am. He was forced to queue for three hours to obtain 150 litres of diesel. “If I don’t fill up this morning, I won’t be able to depart for Sipirok tonight,” he told Tempo.
Fahrougi Andriani Sumampouw, Area Manager for Communication, Relations & CSR at Pertamina Patra Niaga for the northern Sumatra region, did not respond to Tempo’s text messages or phone calls. However, on Wednesday he explained that the queues were caused by the resumption of school activities and increased community activity, meaning fuel demand in Medan rose by around 5 to 10 per cent compared with the average daily consumption.
“Pertamina Patra Niaga ensures that fuel distribution services at all petrol stations in the Medan area and its surroundings have now returned to normal operation. The increase in fuel demand in recent days has occurred alongside rising community activity,” Fahrougi told Tempo on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Pertamina Patra Niaga, Fahrougi said, has increased distribution capacity by adding tanker truck fleets, strengthening distribution personnel and optimising operations so that service at petrol stations has returned to normal.
In addition, the operations of the Medan Fuel Terminal and a number of petrol stations have been optimised around the clock to accelerate fuel distribution to the public. These efforts, Fahrougi claimed, have borne fruit since Sunday 14 July, with fuel distribution rising to 104 per cent of the daily target, using 149 tanker trucks.