Government Calls Social Media Claims of Non-Subsidised Fuel Price Hike a Hoax, Here Are the Facts

As April 2026 approaches, Indonesian society has been stirred by circulating information regarding a potential rise in the prices of non-subsidised fuels. Non-subsidised fuels such as Pertamax, Pertamax Turbo, and Dexlite are rumoured to face price increases starting 1 April 2026. Various social media posts claim that non-subsidised fuel prices will rise significantly, even exceeding Rp5,000 per litre for some types of fuel. However, is this information accurate? PT Pertamina (Persero) has firmly denied the circulating rumours. “The information on projected fuel price increases that is circulating cannot be held accountable,” said Vice President Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), Muhammad Baron. He added that there has been no official announcement regarding changes to non-subsidised fuel prices in April 2026. “There has been no official announcement regarding prices from 1 April 2026.” Pertamina urges the public to refer only to information from the company’s official channels. On the other hand, the government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has assured that subsidised fuels will not experience price increases. “This is an adjustment for non-subsidised fuel products. The subsidised ones are safe (no increase),” said the Director General of Oil and Gas of the Ministry of ESDM, Laode Sulaeman. He also emphasised that the circulating information on subsidised fuel price increases is untrue. “This is dangerous, it’s not true. We are not raising subsidised fuel prices.” The government also asks the public not to engage in panic buying as energy supplies are ensured to be secure. Although there has been no official announcement, several analysts and reports suggest that non-subsidised fuel prices do have the potential to be adjusted. The main influencing factors include the fact that non-subsidised fuels follow market prices, so they can change at any time depending on global conditions. The information circulating on social media includes estimates of increases as follows: However, this data has been confirmed not to originate from official information. Pertamina emphasises that there will be no fuel price increase in April 2026 and refutes the projected prices circulating in the public as unofficial.