Long Queues at North Kalimantan Fuel Stations Not Due to Scarcity, Says Pertamina

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has spoken out regarding a video circulating on social media showing long lorry queues at several petrol stations in Tanjung Selor, Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan. The company stressed that the queues are not caused by scarcity or depleted stocks of Bio Solar (biodiesel).

Corporate Secretary of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Roberth M.V. Dumatubun, said monitoring showed that queues occur mainly at the start of petrol stations’ operating hours due to high demand for Bio Solar, particularly from goods transport vehicles.

According to him, the queues are dominated by East Kalimantan-registered lorries that chose to refuel in the Bulungan area after previously experiencing difficulty obtaining Bio Solar in their home region.

“Particularly from goods transport vehicles, dominated by East Kalimantan-registered lorries. These vehicles chose to refuel in the Bulungan area because they had often struggled to get Bio Solar in their home region,” Roberth told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday (23/7/2026).

Roberth assured that Bio Solar distribution at petrol stations continues to run normally. To date, there has been no halt to distribution nor any depletion of stock of the subsidised fuel.

At petrol station 6472201, located near the queue, Bio Solar stock was recorded at 28 kilolitres (KL), with an additional supply of 16 KL scheduled to arrive on 22 July 2026.

“Therefore, the queues did not stem from distribution delays or stock shortages, but were rather influenced by high demand during early operating hours and high consumption by vehicles from outside the region,” he said.

According to him, Pertamina, together with the regional government and relevant agencies, continues to monitor and coordinate to safeguard availability and ensure subsidised fuel distribution is properly targeted.

The North Kalimantan Provincial Government will also issue a Circular regarding regulations for out-of-region vehicles, requiring them to use non-subsidised fuel in accordance with the rules.