HNSI Appreciates Special Fuel Price Adjustment for Fishermen

The Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI) has expressed its appreciation for the government’s policy to adjust the special price of diesel fuel to Rp15,000 per litre for fishing businesses operating vessels between 30 and 200 gross tonnage. The Chairman of the HNSI Regional Board for Central Java, Riswanto, described the move as a strategic step to ease the operational cost burden on fishermen, noting that fuel is the largest expense component in fishing activities. “We appreciate President Prabowo’s concrete policy to ease the operational cost burden on fishermen,” Riswanto said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday. He added that the reduction in fuel prices is expected to increase the efficiency of fishing operations, strengthen the competitiveness of the fisheries sector, and improve the welfare of coastal communities. Riswanto assessed that the policy also reflects the government’s attention to the marine and fisheries sector as a pillar of national food security and an economic driver for coastal communities. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the HNSI Regional Board for South Sulawesi, Andi Iwan Aras, expressed hope that the policy’s implementation would be effective across all regions of Indonesia. He emphasised that the government must ensure fuel supply availability, ease of access for fishermen, and targeted supervision so that the benefits of the policy are truly felt by fishing businesses. “We, as HNSI administrators, affirm our commitment to continue synergising with the government in overseeing all programmes that favour fishermen, towards realising fishermen who are more prosperous, productive, and competitive,” Andi stated. The policy was decided by President Prabowo Subianto following a meeting with economic ministers in Hambalang, Bogor, on Monday. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto explained that the special price was set after considering that the non-subsidised diesel price had reached Rp21,300 per litre, while fishermen with vessels under 30 GT continue to receive subsidised diesel at Rp6,800 per litre. The price of Rp15,000 per litre was calculated based on the average domestic diesel production cost of Rp18,600 per litre, with the government covering the difference through the Plantation Fund Management Agency rather than the state budget. The government has set a distribution quota of 400,000 tonnes for six months, with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources preparing implementing regulations and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries tasked with identifying eligible recipients to ensure targeted distribution. HNSI hopes the policy will strengthen fisheries productivity, increase fishermen’s incomes, and support the marine sector as a pillar of national food security.