Fuel Stock Secure, Pertamina Urges Public Not to Panic Buy

JAKARTA — PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has appealed to the public not to purchase petroleum products excessively or engage in panic buying, emphasising that fuel supplies are in a secure condition.

“Regarding panic buying, we urge the public not to engage in panic buying,” said Pertamina Patra Niaga Chief Executive Mars Ega Legowo Putra at the Cikampek rest area, kilometre 57, West Java, on Monday, 16 March 2026.

Pertamina Patra Niaga had prepared fuel supplies well in advance. “If panic buying occurs, it will only produce undesirable effects,” added Mars Ega.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia emphasised that petroleum product stocks are consistently available throughout Indonesia, so the public need not worry or panic by purchasing the commodity excessively.

National fuel supplies are secure because production and distribution continue to operate to meet public demand in accordance with operational stock standards set by the government. According to Bahlil, fuel stocks are dynamic because petroleum products are distributed daily to fulfil public needs, whilst simultaneously new supplies are continuously arriving from both domestic refinery production and imports.

The minister added that fuel supplies do not depend on a single source. In addition to supplies from domestic refinery production, fuel availability is reinforced through imports from various countries, not solely dependent on supplies from the Middle East region. These supplies also come from neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, meaning the situation is secure and not directly linked to conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.

As a long-term measure, in accordance with directives from President Prabowo Subianto, the government will increase storage capacity. The plan includes building new storage infrastructure capable of holding fuel stock for at least three months.