KKP: Fishermen Still Hindered in Accessing Subsidised Fuel

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) states that fishermen are still facing difficulties in accessing subsidised fuel oil (BBM). “Nevertheless, challenges in the field persist, particularly regarding distribution that is not yet evenly spread and access that is not fully easily reachable for fishermen,” said Director General of Capture Fisheries Lotharia Latif in a written statement on Friday, 24 April 2026.

However, despite receiving subsidised BBM facilities and no price increases occurring, fishermen still encounter access barriers.

For this reason, Latif stressed the importance of improving distribution governance so that subsidised BBM reaches its intended targets. He also urged amendments to Presidential Regulation No. 191 of 2014 on the Provision, Distribution, and Retail Selling Price of Fuel Oil.

As a short-term effort, Latif said that KKP will soon coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation regarding several technical obstacles, including the transportation of BBM using fish carrier vessels.

That statement was delivered by Latif when presenting the results of discussions with associations, fishermen’s unions, fisheries entrepreneurs, and ministries/agencies that proposed a special BBM scheme due to the rise in non-subsidised petrol prices.

According to Latif, the proposal for a special scheme serves as a strategic solution to maintain the sustainability of capture fisheries businesses. Moreover, he said, 70 percent of sea operational costs come from BBM. Thus, the increase in non-subsidised BBM prices has the potential to reduce fishermen’s and business actors’ incomes.

Regarding the proposal for special BBM prices for capture fisheries business actors, Latif revealed that the government and business entities have held cross-sectoral coordination meetings. The meeting was conducted by the National Development Planning Agency, the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, the Ministry of Transportation, the Coordinating Ministry for Food, the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Finance. Latif said that the results of the meeting’s proposals have been submitted for the government to follow up immediately.