Nation's Fuel Stock Secured, Public Urged Not to Panic

Jakarta, Kompas.com — Member of the National Energy Council (DEN) M Kholid Syeirazi said that the national supply of fuel oil (BBM) is currently sufficient, so the public need not worry or panic because Pertamina (Persero) is ready to safeguard supply. He explained that the around-20-day reserve does not mean that the BBM will run out after that, because Pertamina continues to stabilise stocks. ‘Therefore, the public are asked to stay calm, not panic, and not engage in hoarding as it would have adverse effects on the economy,’ he said in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday (8/3/2026). For operational reserves, he continued, they are provided by the business entity, in this case Pertamina, on a circulating basis. That is, if stock is used, it will be replenished from import sources. Meanwhile, energy buffer reserves are mandatory and must be provided by the government in line with the state’s financial capacity. The provisions are set out in Presidential Regulation Number 96 of 2024 on Energy Buffer Reserves (CPE), which must be provided by the government. ‘So I urge the public not to panic. The about-20-days refers to circulating stock. So it goes in and out. When goods go out, goods come in,’ said Kholid. According to him, to date Pertamina is still producing oil through ongoing drilling activities, including exploration and increase of reserves. Meanwhile, Executive Director of the ReforMiner Institute, Komaidi Notonegoro, said that what is meant by around 20 days of reserves is operational reserves, a kind of inventory stored. He said that the around-20-day reserve is even higher than in some other countries such as Vietnam, which has about 15 days of operational reserves, and Laos about 10 days. Therefore, Komaidi hopes the public remains calm, including ahead of Eid al-Fitr, as Pertamina has prepared distribution well, including through the Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr Task Force. ‘And I think the stock in each region is also safe,’ he said.